A former substitute who had worked at Northeast High School in Oakland Park was arrested Friday on sexual battery related charges tied to a student, according to school and court records. The arrest, announced in a ParentLink message from the school's principal, triggered a Broward Sheriff's Office investigation and left families seeking answers. School leaders said they are cooperating with investigators as the case moves through the courts.
Arrest and charges
According to Local 10, 27-year-old Marsel Javaris Smith was booked Friday and is facing charges that include sexual battery involving a victim between 16 and 17 years old and "engaging in a romantic relationship as an authority figure." Jail records and bond court notes show a judge found probable cause and ordered Smith to have no contact with minors or the alleged victim. Local 10 reported Smith was being held on a $30,000 bond at the Broward County Main Jail and is due back in court on Monday.
School response
Northeast High principal Anthony Valachovic told families the school is "deeply disturbed by the allegations" and that administrators are "working closely with the Broward Sheriff’s Office," the ParentLink message states, as reported by Local 10. The school said Smith is no longer permitted to work anywhere within Broward County Public Schools and declined to provide further details while the investigation is active. The message also directed families to counseling resources for students who may need support while the inquiry is underway.
Agency and oversight
Local reporting indicates Smith was not a district employee but instead worked through staffing firm Kelly Education to cover temporary classroom assignments. Kelly Education describes itself as a national provider of substitute and school staffing services and says it offers screening and training for temporary educators. Outsourcing substitute coverage is common in large districts, and in such arrangements both the staffing agency and the district typically have roles in placement and oversight.
Legal context
Florida law treats sexual battery and unlawful sexual activity with minors as serious felonies. The state's sexual battery code defines the offense broadly, and a separate statute makes sexual activity between certain aged minors and adults a second degree felony. Prosecutors will decide the precise charges and whether statutes that address relationships of authority apply, which can carry enhanced penalties under state law. See Florida Statutes §794.011 and Florida Statutes §794.05 for the law's text.
Local 10 has requested Smith's arrest report from the Broward Sheriff's Office and plans to update its coverage as more records or official statements become available. For now, district officials and law enforcement sources have urged privacy for the student while the investigation continues and reiterated that student safety is a top priority. Families seeking additional information were told to contact school counseling or district safety contacts.
