A Brooksville man has been arrested after he reportedly lured underage boys into his home and molested them between August 2016 and May 2017.
Bruce P. McAllister, 68, is married to the Principal at Hernando Christian Academy and he is a staff member at the school. The two were the host parents for foreign exchange students.
On April 29, 2017, the Brooksville Police Department received a complaint about sex offenses happening at the home of Bruce McAllister in Brooksville. Police began investigating and found that McAllister used a school sponsored foreign exchange program to lure victims into his home. Police say he courted and molested several underage teenage boys while under his guardianship.
The foreign exchange students are 17-year-old boys from Italy.
McAllister volunteered for the sheriff's office working at the courthouse doing fingerprints and DNA samples.
He is facing charges for two victims but police are investigating four total victims. He was booked into the Hernando County Jail on $77,000 bond.
The investigation is ongoing. McAllister faces 5 counts of sexual battery by custodian and 27 counts of battery.
Hernando Christian Academy released the following statement:
On May 11, 2017 an arrest was made of a Hernando Volunteer Sheriff, according to online news reports.
The news source alleged that the offender was the husband of an employee of Hernando Christian Academy.
Hernando Christian Academy has not had the opportunity to verify the veracity of the allegations.
No Hernando Christian Academy employees, including the wife of the alleged offender, have been implicated. However, the Academy has begun an investigation and will cooperate with all governmental agencies regarding the matter.
Hernando Christian Academy has been operating since 1981 and has had no prior incidents [of this nature.] It has an outstanding reputation in the community for providing quality education in a positive, uplifting environment. The Academy has welcomed international students from China, Brazil, Vietnam and elsewhere.
There will be no further press releases until investigations are concluded. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact Deborah Hogan, ESq. The Hogan Law Firm, 352-799-8423 who is compiling the investigation documentation.
McAllister bonded out of jail around 10 p.m. Thursday night.
Police believe there could possibly be more victims as the exchange student program has been around since 2006. If you have any information, please contact Detective Pasternak at 352-540-3800 or Crime Stoppers at 1-866-990-8477.
