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Former Dunedin Middle School Teacher Accused of Sex Crimes with Student

Marselia Anthony Smith | Pinellas Sheriff | CLearwater Police

Some of the charges were filed by the Clearwater Police Department. Others were filed by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

PINELLAS COUNTY – A former middle school teacher is accused of sexually related crimes with a 14-year-old male student, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said.

Marselia Anthony Smith, 34, of Clearwater, is charged with three counts of lewd and lascivious battery and one count of lewd and lascivious conduct. Two of the charges were filed by the Clearwater Police Department for incidents that officers said took place at Smith’s Clearwater home. The other two charges were filed by the Sheriff’s Office for an incident that allegedly happened at the school, which is in the sheriff’s jurisdiction.

Deputies said they began their investigation Thursday (May 31) after Clearwater police told them of Smith’s arrest. During the course of their investigation and interview of Smith,
Clearwater detectives said they learned there was a crime committed at Dunedin Middle School, where Smith was a chorus teacher. He is no longer employed with the school.

The investigation determined that Smith initially began to communicate with the victim through a social networking website. Smith was not the14-year-old boy’s teacher, but he was known to Smith through attending the school.

The boy told detectives that Smith engaged in inappropriate sexual activity with him at Dunedin Middle School in February. The inappropriate activity did not happen during school hours.

Sheriff’s detectives tried to interview Smith at the Pinellas County Jail, but he declined. In a prior interview with Clearwater detectives, Smith admitted all charges, officers said.

Clearwater police said some incidents happened at Smith’s apartment in Clearwater beginning April 1.

Detectives are unaware if there are additional victims. Anyone with more information should call the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Crimes Against Children Unit, Detective A. Weistock at (727) 582-6483.

Pinellas Sheriff | Clearwater Police | Crime | Arrests | Tampabay News

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