Two Broward students accused of brutally attacking their teacher at Dillard High School will face charges as adults, following their arrests for the violent incident caught on camera.
According to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, Jayvis McClover and Roddrick McQueen, both 19, threatened the teacher before launching a physical assault on Thursday. Cellphone footage shows the students repeatedly striking the victim until security personnel intervened.
The arrest report states that McClover and McQueen struck the teacher multiple times in the face and continued hitting him after he had fallen to the ground. Parents of other students expressed shock and concern after seeing the footage, with some emphasizing the need for stricter measures to ensure safety on campus.
Investigators revealed that the attack followed verbal threats made by the students earlier in the day. Both were arrested and charged with battery on a school employee. They appeared before a judge over the weekend, where bond was set at $15,000 for McClover and $3,000 for McQueen. McQueen was placed on pre-trial release with an ankle monitoring device and has been ordered to stay away from Dillard High School.
Since both individuals are legally adults, they will be prosecuted as such under Florida law. This could mean harsher penalties if convicted. Meanwhile, the teacher sustained facial injuries, including bruising and swelling.
In Florida, battery on a school employee is addressed under Florida Statute 784.081, which enhances the penalties for such offenses when the victim is a school employee engaged in their official duties. Specifically, a simple battery, typically a first-degree misdemeanor, is elevated to a third-degree felony under these circumstances.
The penalties for a third-degree felony in Florida include:
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Imprisonment: Up to 5 years.
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Fines: Up to $5,000.
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Probation: Up to 5 years.
It’s important to note that the actual sentence can vary based on factors such as prior criminal history, the specifics of the incident, and judicial discretion.
