Substitute teacher accused of ‘sending inappropriate messages’ to students: MCSO

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — A substitute teacher was arrested Nov. 8 after authorities said he sent inappropriate messages to students in Hillsborough and Manatee counties.

Joseph Prevatte, 39, was charged with soliciting or engaging in lewd conduct with a student, lewd or lascivious battery and harmful overt communication with a minor.

The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) said on Oct. 31, school officials received a tip that a substitute teacher was sending inappropriate messages to a high school student in Manatee County.

The school reported the tip to the Florida Abuse Hotline, and detectives with the Department of Children and Families and MCSO began investigating the allegations. MCSO said Prevatte was immediately told by the school board that he could not hold teaching jobs in the district pending the outcome of the investigation.

In their investigation, detectives found that the 39-year-old substitute teacher had been messaging the student on Instagram for several weeks. Some of the messages had a sexual tone, and Prevatte also sent a photo of herself that was nude but cropped to not show her genitals, MCSO said.

Prevatte, who lives in Hillsborough County, was arrested Nov. 8.

Almost two weeks later, the sheriff’s office said they learned that the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) was also investigating a 39-year-old substitute teacher accused of having inappropriate conversations with a minor in Hillsborough County.

On November 19, HCSO added two more charges to Prevatte’s arrest.

MCSO said the investigation is ongoing because detectives believe more people may have been affected by Prevatte’s actions. Anyone with information is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 941-747-3011.