A former school security guard is facing charges of lewd conduct against a student at Somerset Academy Canyons in Boynton Beach, after investigations led by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office revealed a troubling string of events between the guard and a 14-year-old student. The accused, Jamar Tyrone Matthew Agard, 31, was arrested following a detailed examination of over 2000 text messages and other digital evidence pointing to his inappropriate advances towards the minor. CBS12 News reported that the incident occurred on October 17, 2024, an day that has left an indelible mark on the victim's sense of security and well-being.
According to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, the student had tried to avoid Agard by requesting an escort from an officer to the bathroom, yet she found herself confronted by Agard instead. In a statement obtained by WPBF 25 News, the student's mother detailed a text she received from her daughter, explaining how Agard had forcibly kissed her in an elevator when he was supposed to be safeguarding her within the confines of the academy. Despite Agard's assertions that the charges were baseless, claiming that the student had a "crush" on him, evidence gathered during the investigation paints a different story.
Additional discoveries by the sheriff's office included internet searches on Agard’s phone related to the consequences of adults soliciting minors, despite his claims that he never initiated inappropriate contact. A second similar encounter with the student allegedly occurred later that same day, contributing to the severity of the charges filed against Agard. Amidst these unsettling discoveries, Somerset Academy Canyons administrators acted, notifying law enforcement of the allegation, which has led to Agard’s arrest and subsequent charges.
Lynn Norman-Teck, representative for the Florida Charter School Alliance, communicated the gravity of the situation in an email. "As soon as school administrators became aware of concerns raised by a student, they contacted the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO) and the individual’s employment was terminated. The safety and well-being of our students is always our top priority, and we are committed to fully investigating any matter of concern and taking swift, appropriate action when necessary," read the statement provided to CBS12 News. Parents of Somerset Academy Canyons students, like Romeo Gelin and Monique Brown, expressed relief and concern, acknowledging the lasting impact such trauma could have on children's willingness to trust adults and feel safe in their educational environment.
Now facing a second-degree felony charge for offense against students by authority figures (lewd conduct), Agard has had his bond set at $500,000.
