A substitute teacher, Joseph Prevatte, 39, has been arrested on charges related to inappropriate conduct with students in both Manatee and Hillsborough Counties.
On October 31, 2024, a tip was submitted through FortifyFL alleging that Prevatte had been sending inappropriate Instagram messages to a high school student in Manatee County. Some of the messages reportedly had a sexual undertone, and Prevatte sent the victim an unclothed photo of himself cropped to exclude genitalia. The school immediately notified the Florida Abuse Hotline, and the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) detectives launched an investigation. Prevatte was barred from teaching within the district during the investigation.
On November 8, MCSO arrested Prevatte in Hillsborough County, charging him with Soliciting or Engaging in Lewd Conduct with a Student, a second-degree felony.
Further investigation revealed that the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) was also investigating Prevatte for an alleged inappropriate relationship involving a minor in Hillsborough County. On November 19, HCSO deputies arrested Prevatte on charges of Lewd or Lascivious Battery and Harmful Explicit Communication to a Minor.
The investigation is ongoing, and detectives believe there may be additional victims. Anyone with information is urged to contact the MCSO at 941-747-3011.
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