Alternative school teacher arrested on sex solicitation involving minors, battery charges
Audley Hewitt, 61, who was named 2022 IR Prep Teacher of the Year, was arrested just before noon July 17, law enforcement and school district records show.
His full charges include soliciting a sexual battery act by a custodian with a victim under 18; battery touch or strike; unlawful use of a two-way communication device, according to Indian River County Sheriff's Office records.
Arrest records show he was arrested at his residence west of Vero Beach in the 6400 block of 26th Street at 11:51 a.m.
A student reported Hewitt's alleged actions saying he was "engaged in inappropriate relationships" and "soliciting a student," according to an Indian River County Sheriff's Office news release.
A School District of Indian River County spokesperson provided a statement acknowledging the arrest and 'allegations involving a teacher at IR Prep,' and that both referred to Hewitt.
The allegations in the student's report occurred from Jan. 22 through March, Capt. Joe Abollo said. He said the district notified law enforcement of the student's report at a later date.
It's unclear at what point between March and the date of Hewitt's arrest the school notified the agency of the matter.
'As soon as the matter was brought to the District's attention, appropriate steps were immediately taken,' district spokesperson Kyra Schafte said in an emailed statement. 'The District conducted an internal investigation and, consistent with its obligations, promptly reported the matter to the Department of Children and Families and to the Indian River County Sheriff's Office.'
Superintendent David Moore approved a measure to speed up Hewitt's termination of employment.
IR Prep at 1426 18th Street is a secondary school for students in grades six through12.
Hewitt was not found among an online list of faculty, however, an Oct. 11, 2022 Facebook picture and caption depicts the school's principal, Dariyall Brown, posing with Hewitt who was awarded as that year's 'Teacher of the Year.'
(This story was updated with more information.)
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Corey Arwood is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow Corey on Twitter @coreyarwood, or reach him by phone at 772-978-2246.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: IR Prep school teacher arrested on sex solicitation charge involving minors
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