KISSIMMEE, Fla. – A Kissimmee man who taught at two small Osceola County Christian schools in the past year was arrested Wednesday and charged with sexual battery on a student.
Deputies with the Osceola County Sheriff's Office said that they were first notified in October after a parent said the teacher, Domynik Falon Lewis, 20, was sending sexually explicit communications with her child using social media.
Osceola County Sheriff's Office Capt. Jacob Ruiz said Lewis was not a state-certified teacher.
The now 13-year-old victim told detectives that Lewis engaged in sex acts on her in a classroom at Esther School on Neptune Road in Kissimmee from November to December of last year. The Esther Shool has since moved to a new location on Simpson Road.
Founded in 2003 Esther School Inc., is a Christian school system, which has been “the trendsetter in Biblical educational reform,” according to the school’s website. The organization has locations across West Central Florida, which accept students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade.
Lewis was employed at the Esther School location in Kissimmee, according to the report.Â
Esther Schools District Superintendent Natasha Griffin said school officials were not aware of any allegations against Lewis until Thursday. She said he passed a drug test and federal background check when he was hired in March 2016.
"At Esther School, our hearts are going out to any of the families affected by these tragic allegations and we pray for healing and restoration for this situation," Griffin said.
She described Lewis as "responsible," saying she never suspected he was engaged in any inappropriate conduct.
Deputies said Lewis left Esther in January and was working at the Grace Excellence School, which is affiliated with St. James A.M.E. Zion Church, on N. John Young parkway in Kissimmee, until he was arrested.
According to state business records, 20-year-old Lewis is the director of the Grace Excellence School.
Lewis is charged with five counts of sexual battery, five counts of molestation and one count of lewd conduct.
Deputies said Lewis continued to have daily contact with children before he was arrested. Officials with the Osceola County Sheriff's Office asked that if anyone has any information related to this case or knows of any similar incidents, they should contact the Sheriff's Office at 407-348-2222 or call Crimeline at 1-800-423-8477.