A first-grade teacher who had previously been investigated was arrested Monday for misconduct with a 6-year-old, according to NBC Miami 6.
Damian Francis, 44, a teacher at Broward County Public Schools in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been charged with lewd and lascivious conduct while being held with a $65,000 bail, according to NBC Miami 6.
The arrest comes after a student reported that Francis would touch and rub her legs when helping her with classwork.
“The District is aware of the arrest,” Broward County Public Schools said. “This individual is being reassigned to a position away from the school and students. We defer to the Lauderhill Police Department for any additional information.”
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Francis had been moved to a different class in January following a several-month long investigation into similar allegations, Local 10 News reported.
In March, the 6-year-old student in the recent case told her mother she did not want to wear skirts or shorts anymore because Francis had been touching her and she felt “uncomfortable,” the NBC Miami 6 reported. Francis then told police in March, “I shouldn’t have been hugging or touching them.”
“I’m in shock,” a parent told NBC Miami 6. “That is unacceptable. They are innocent babies.”
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