A substitute teacher formerly at Jacksonville’s First Coast High School has been charged with having sexual activity with a student, an arrest report shows.
Cameron Arnez Coverson, 27, was jailed September 21 on two counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, a single count of seeking or engaging in sex with a student
and charges of traveling to meet a minor for unlawful acts and illegal use of a communication device.Three of the counts are second-degree felonies, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
“I understand how concerning it is to receive news like this, and I want you to know that I share your concern,” Principal Ronnie Williams told First Coast families in a message that a Duval County Public Schools spokeswoman provided to reporters.
“Providing a safe learning environment for our students is among our highest priorities at all times,” Williams added.
The charges continue a string of arrests involving educators and school staff in the past six months, although the school district noted that Coverson is employed by ESS, a staffing firm that provides substitute teachers as needed.
The redacted arrest report says Sheriff’s Office detectives made the arrest after a student told Williams about a friend who reported being troubled by her relationship with Coverson.
The report said the redacted friend told police that she and Coverson began texting in May, talked over Facetime in “student-teacher roleplay” and had a sexual encounter in Coverson’s car over the summer.
The report said that Coverson texted the girl during school on September 16 and the two went into a classroom with no camera surveillance.
Relating the girl’s account, the report said “the suspect gave her a hug and would not let her go. He ‘rubbed’ her buttocks and tried to move her towards the closet” but she pushed him away and raised her voice, telling him to let her go.
The girl later told her friend, who told Wiliams, the report said, adding that the girl agreed to conduct a phone call with Coverson with police listening.
Coverson pleaded not guilty September 23 and was being held September 24 on $650,015 bond, court and jail records said.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville substitute teacher jailed on teen student sex charges
