THE VILLAGES, Fla. -- A 65-year-old substitute teacher accused of molesting an elementary student at her school was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Thursday, Marion County sheriff's investigators said.

Jerry Michael Bounds, 65, of The Villages, was found dead by a neighbor as authorities were preparing to arrest him on charges involving two children at a different school, investigators said.

Bounds was arrested Tuesday two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior on a victim under the age of 12, accused by police of touching a girl inappropriately at Belleview Elementary School, located at 5556 SE County Road 484.

The victim told authorities that on two separate occasions Bounds touched her on her buttocks and private area, according to a Belleview police report. Bounds told the girl not to tell anyone about the incident or they could both get into trouble, the report stated.

The girl also said that Bounds asked her to wear a skirt to school the next time he would be teaching in her class, police said.

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