Palm Beach County Teacher Arrested for Alleged Sexual Abuse of Student

Elias Gordon Farley, a science teacher at Donna Klein Jewish Academy in Boca Raton, Florida, is facing serious felony charges after being accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with a minor student. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PBSO) initiated the investigation following a report from the student on November 18. According to the affidavit, the student stated that their interactions with Farley began as casual conversations during the previous school year but escalated over the summer through a shared Google Doc. This document allegedly contained explicit entries detailing sexual activity and plans for private meetings.

The student reported that physical contact began in mid-September, initially in Farley’s office, where he allegedly touched her beneath her clothing. The encounters continued for weeks, moving to a classroom on campus, and eventually included sexual acts such as oral sex and intercourse. The student also described visiting Farley’s apartment twice in early November, where further sexual encounters occurred.

Detectives executed a search warrant and found bedding, condom wrappers, and furniture matching the student’s descriptions. Farley’s roommate confirmed that Farley had been home alone on the dates the student claimed to have visited. School surveillance video also supported the student’s account, showing Farley and the student entering his office and a classroom together on November 7.

The school was alerted to the allegations on November 14 after the student confided in an art teacher and showed her bruises and bite marks she attributed to Farley. The school immediately suspended Farley and reported the matter to child welfare authorities.

Farley refused to speak with detectives after being read his Miranda rights. He was booked into the Palm Beach County Main Detention Center on December 4 and is being held on a $500,000 bond.

Farley faces charges of unlawful sexual activity with a minor and offense against a student by an authority figure.

The alleged abuse reportedly occurred in Farley's office, a classroom at Donna Klein Jewish Academy, and at Farley's apartment.

Evidence includes explicit Google Docs exchanges, school surveillance footage, and items found in Farley's apartment that match the student's description.

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