Steven Velez, Florida Band Director, Arrested After Allegedly Having Sex With Students

Steven Velez, Florida band director at a public high school, was taken into custody on Tuesday by the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office. The Kissimmee resident was arrested and transported to the Osceola County Jail, where he was booked and is being held on a $2,000 bond. The 25-year-old employee of Poinciana High School was allegedly engaging in sexual relations with two students at the school, leading to his arrest.

The Florida band director was charged with a second-degree felony and two counts of committing unlawful sexual acts with certain minors. Both alleged victims were 17-year-old girls. The age of consent in Florida is 18. However, there is a provision that allows teens of 16 and 17 to have sex with partners aged 16 to 23.

At least one of the teens was just 16-years-old when she and Steven Velez began exchanging personal text messages. She told officials that texting soon led to a sexual relationship and that she had sex with him at his home and in his office at the school. When she learned that the school employee was also having sex with another teen, she told her parents about her sexual relationship with Velez. Then she called the police, according to the Spread It.

Authorities were notified of Steven Velez’s alleged activities last week, and immediately began investigating the claims. Shortly thereafter, Velez resigned as the Florida school’s band director, reported My News 13. He had worked for the school district since 2012.

Osceola County schools spokeswoman Dana Schafer explained that the school district took quick action upon learning of the allegations against the Kissimmee Florida school’s band director.

“We found out about the allegation on Nov. 18, and immediately notified the proper authorities, which of course includes law enforcement.”

Osceola County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Twis Lizasuain said that Velez was cooperating with the investigation.

Following the Thanksgiving break, Poinciana High School plans to make guidance counselors available to students who need to talk to someone after the arrest of former Florida band director Steven Velez. The school reopens for classes on Monday, December 1, 2014.

As previously reported by the Inquisitr, Shia LaBeouf made a shocking claim recently when he told an interviewer that he was raped during his art gallery exhibit. As part of the art installation, the actor sat silently in a room as fans and other interested parties entered one at a time. One woman who entered alone allegedly whipped him, stripped him, and raped him before exiting the room. The alleged assailant’s boyfriend and LaBeouf’s girlfriend were among the hundreds of people waiting outside the room.

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[Image of former Florida band director Steven Velez via Osceola County Sheriff’s Office]