UPDATE OCTOBER 22: Corey French plead guilty on Oct. 17. He has been sentenced to 3 years in prison, followed by five years of sexual offender probation, according to the Duval County Clerk of Courts.
ORIGINAL STORY:
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said it arrested a former Fletcher High School teacher for alleged sexual relations with students.
According to police, the Special Assault Unit has been investigating complaints into Corey French, a former Fletcher High School teacher.
JSO said that during the investigation the Special Assault Unit spoke with two reported victims, a 17-year-old and a 16-year-old.
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According to police, the victims both told the Special Assault Unit they had consensual sex with French while he was a teacher.
According to the school district French's wife, a kindergarten teacher, has been arrested for allegedly resisting arrested without violence.
Police are asking for anyone with information on this case or other potential victims to contact the Sheriff's Office at 904-630-0500 or JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org.
Former teacher, Corey French, arrested after having sexual relations with students while employed at Fletcher HS between 2015 & 2017. Anyone who has info in this case or possible victims please contact #JSO at 904-630-0500 or JSOCrimeTips@jaxsheriff.org. https://t.co/0girdLwS99 pic.twitter.com/zYhn3XXjUC
— Jax Sheriff's Office (@JSOPIO) September 28, 2018
A Duval County School District spokesperson said that the school district became aware of the accusations in March 2018, during the 2017-2018 school year.
According to the spokesperson, the district immediately began to investigate and the teacher was removed from the classroom. French has not been in the classroom since the investigation began, according to the school district.
The school district said French resigned May 2 of the 2017-2018 school year, after learning of a recommendation of termination.
Action News Jax reporter Courtney Cole received this statement from the school district Friday:
Courtney,
On March 19, 2018 staff in the Duval County Public Schools professional standards office were notified of an alleged inappropriate sexual relationship between Fletcher High School teacher Corey French and one or more students. Following that notification, Mr. French was immediately pulled from his classroom responsibility and assigned to a temporary role with no student contact. Consistent with procedure, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office was notified.
Mr. French resigned from his teaching position on May 2, 2018 upon notification of the district's recommendation of termination. The district referred this matter to the Florida Department of Education's Office of Professional Practices as required by law.
In a related matter, Alexandra French, kindergarten teacher at Venetia Elementary and spouse of Mr. French, was arrested last night on a misdemeanor resisting arrest without violence charge. The district is also reviewing this matter and will make a discipline recommendation at the appropriate time.
Mr. French was a science teacher who had been employed at Fletcher High School for the totality of his four-year tenure with the district.
Cox Media Group
