JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville high school teacher was arrested Friday on charges related to an incident involving a student, authorities said.
Jason Clark, 28, was released from the Duval County jail Saturday after posting bond on charges of offenses against a student by an authority figure and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, jail records show.
According to a news release from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Clark was accused of attempting to engage a student in a sex act.
Clark, who teaches mathematics at Ribault High School, has been reassigned to a role without student contact until the matter is resolved, a Duval County Public Schools spokesperson told News4Jax.
The charges stem from an incident Thursday involving a student, according to Clark’s arrest report. The report said that Clark and the student were chatting on FaceTime about 7 p.m. that evening when Clark asked for the student’s address.
The student told police Clark showed up at their home about five minutes later and the pair met up at a gas station nearby. According to the report, the student got into the car with Clark and that’s where the unspecified incident took place.
Based on the heavily redacted report, it’s unclear what else Clark and the student told police. The report did, however, mention that police had the student make a controlled call with Clark, meaning police were listening to their conversation.
“He’s someone that the students look up to, a person that is respected by the students,” said News4Jax crime and safety expert Ken Jefferson. “And when you have a situation like this, it betrays that trust.”
According to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office, Clark is also a coach. They released his mugshot asking for anyone with additional information that could help police in the investigation to come forward and call 904-630-0500.
During his first appearance in court, Clark stated: “I just moved here from Kansas City due to my mother dying. I’ve been teaching for four years and have never had anything like this occur.”
News4Jax visited Clark’s address Monday evening. When asked if he wished to make a comment, he walked away from his window.
A statement from Duval County Public Schools reads: “We are monitoring this situation as a human resources matter. The employee has been reassigned to duties without student contact until the matter is concluded.”
Court records show Clark remains free on bond while awaiting a March 15 arraignment hearing. He has been ordered not to have contact with any children.