Dean of Florida Middle School charged with sexual battery of student

On the afternoon of Thursday, May 5, Florida’s Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Major Crimes detectives arrested 40-year-old Henry Lee for “Sexual Battery on a Victim 12 Years of Age or Older but Younger Than 18 Years of Age.”  At the time of his arrest, Lee was employed as a Dean at Springfield’s Lake Weir Middle School, where his young victim attended school. He was also the Varsity Track and Field Coach for the school, according to Click Orlando.

On Thursday, May 5, Major Crimes Detective Karla Santana-Palau received information that Anderson had sexually battered a juvenile victim at Lake Weir Middle School on Wednesday, May 4. An interview was conducted with the victim, who disclosed that Anderson picked her up from her home around 10 p.m. on Wednesday so that the two of them could exercise together.

The Sheriff’s Office said that Anderson took the victim to the weight room at Lake Weir Middle School, where he sexually attacked her during a post-exercise massage. Anderson then took the child to Wendy’s for food before returning her to her home after 1:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 5.

Detective Santana-Palau was provided with evidence from the victim’s cell phone that was consistent with the her account of the incident.

After the victim’s disclosure, MCSO deputies responded to Lake Weir Middle School and made contact with Anderson, who was then transported to MCSO Central Operations for questioning. During the interview, Anderson denied knowing why he was being interviewed and provided several inconsistent statements about the contact he had with the victim on Wednesday night.

Anderson was placed under arrest and transported to the Marion County Jail, where he was being held on a $10,000 bond.

Due to the nature of this crime and Anderson’s position as a dean at Lake Weir Middle School, Major Crimes detectives believe Anderson may have other victims. Sheriff Billy Woods, MCSO, discussed the incident at a press conference and asked parents and teachers to talk with the Middle Schoolers and encouraged any other victims to come forward.

If you, or someone you know, has been victimized by Anderson, please call Detective Caitlin Hartigan at (352) 368-3535 or Detective Karla Santana-Palau at (352) 368-3548.

For more on the story, see the video below.

(Source and Henry Lee Anderson mugshot: Marion County Sheriff’s Office)

Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today   /   Follow Richard on Facebook and Twitter