FLORIDA — A middle school teacher in Volusia County has been arrested on a child abuse charge, authorities said.
Julio Padilla, a teacher at Deltona Middle School, was taken into custody Monday following allegations of inappropriate contact with a student.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation after receiving a report that Padilla allegedly touched a student inappropriately in his classroom.
The investigation began in mid-September when the student reported that Padilla rubbed her back, shoulder, and chest while helping her with an assignment.
Volusia County Public Schools confirmed that Padilla is on administrative leave and has had no student contact since September, when the district’s Professional Standards office began its investigation.
The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information about additional cases to contact the VSO Child Exploitation Unit at ChildExploitationUnit@volusiasheriff.gov. The school district emphasized that student safety remains its top priority.
