A 74-year-old janitor is accused of kissing a special needs student against here will and giving her money, Pinellas County deputies say.
Ira Boyd, of 2827 12 Avenue South In St. Petersburg, is now charged with false imprisonment and simple battery.
According to an arrest affidavit, the incident happened around noon at Campell Park Elementary School.
Deputies say Boyd secretly confined a low functioning student into a secluded and isolated area on campus which was blocked from view behind machinery.
The machinery noise also prevented Boyd and the girl being heard, deputies say.
According to deputies, the victim was attending an outside class function and was being supervised by other staff who briefly lost sight of her.
Boyd did not have permission to be alone with the girl or authority to supervise her.
While alone with the girl, Boyd reportedly forcibly hugged the victim while firmly pressing up against her with his hands on her hips and then firmly kissed the girl on the mouth, an arrest affidavit states.
The victim, deputies say, told them this was done against her will and was "nasty."
Boyd allegedly gave the girl three $1.00 bills.
A teacher's assistant claims to have witnessed the embrace when she had gone looking for the missing student.
Deputies described the teaching assistant as visibly shaken.
Lisa Wolfe, spokesperson for Pinellas County Schools, released the following statement to ABC Action News:
"Mr. Boyd resigned yesterday morning. As he is no longer an employee of our district, we will not pursue disciplinary action but will cooperate fully on the legal investigation. The only past disciplinary issue we have had with him is he reported to us he was arrested for driving with a suspended license, but that is unrelated to his school duties."
