A first grade teacher at Deerwood Elementary School has been arrested and is facing charges of sexual battery on a minor, according to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.
During a news conference on Monday, Osceola Sheriff Marcos Lopez explained how the investigation of 36-year-old Joel Valasco Tamil, a first-grade teacher at Deerwood Elementary School began.
According to the Sheriff, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office Special Crimes Unit began an investigation after receiving a call from a father who said his 15-year-old son had been sexually battered. According to the sheriff, the father said his son had been in the suspect’s home, and while there, the suspect sexually battered him. After the 15-year-old told his father what had happened, the father confronted the suspect. The suspect begged him not to contact the police, but the father contacted the Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Lopez said the two met on the dating app Grinder, and when they later met in person, the teacher forced himself on the boy and refused to stop, even after the boy asked him to stop.
Tapil is charged with one count of sexual battery and is in the Osceola County Jail on zero bond.
The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office is asking for anyone with information about Tapil, or is aware of other possible victims to call407) 348-1100.
