SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. – A Brevard County teacher has been arrested on child abuse charges after police say he was there when a minor was forced to get naked and drink alcohol.
Satellite Beach police arrested 45-year-old Jason Burchfield, who teaches at Palm Bay High School, on three felony counts of child abuse and three felony counts of failure to report child abuse.
The arrest warrant said on three separate incidents in 2013, he visited a male friend in Satellite Beach with a stepdaughter, under 14 years old, who was forced to undress in the presence of men for hours and drink vodka.
Burchfield told police that he was present at the time and confirmed the victim's allegations. By law, as a teacher, Burchfield is required to report such activity.
"Well, it breaks my heart for the girl and it makes me sick," Anja Pacetti told Local 6.
Pacetti lives in the same Indialantic condominium complex as Burchfield. She said the allegations are especially disturbing because she has children.
"That's the reality of the world we live in, but it's sickening," Pacetti said.
According to the school's website, Burchfield is currently the head baseball coach at Palm Bay High School and has had numerous coaching positions in the county over the years.
Investigators said they don't believe any crime was committed on school property. Brevard County schools says Burchfield is on administrative leave.
Burchfield was taken to Brevard County jail.