A teacher, Elias Gordon Farley, aged 26, has been taken into custody on December 4 on charges of allegedly grooming an underage student through a shared Google document and engaging in sexual activities with her both at the school and his residence. The victim reported the abuse on November 18, leading to Farley’s arrest. Farley was identified as a science teacher at the Donna Klein Jewish Academy, a private school located in Palm Beach County, Florida.
Following the incident, a spokesperson from the academy stated on December 5 that Farley is no longer associated with the institution. Reports suggest that the victim mentioned the interactions started as casual conversations in the previous academic year but escalated when Farley created a shared Google Doc over the summer. The document allegedly contained explicit content detailing sexual activities and plans for private meetings between Farley and the student.
According to official documents, the student disclosed that the physical relationship began in mid-September within Farley’s office. The victim claimed that Farley touched her inappropriately, and these encounters continued for weeks in both the office and a classroom setting. By late September and into October, the student alleged that the teacher and she engaged in sexual acts, including oral sex, and even had intercourse within a campus classroom at one point.
The victim also reported visiting Farley’s apartment twice in early November, where multiple sexual encounters took place. During a search at Farley’s residence, authorities discovered evidence including condom wrappers and furniture matching the victim’s description. Additionally, Farley’s roommate confirmed his absence during the student’s alleged visits.
CCTV footage from the school captured Farley and the student entering his office together on November 7 and later entering a classroom for about an hour. The victim disclosed the incidents to an art teacher on November 14, showing bruises and bite marks allegedly inflicted by Farley. Consequently, Farley was suspended the following day upon school administrators’ notification.
Farley has been detained at the Palm Beach County Main Detention Center, facing charges related to engaging in sexual activities with a minor. His bond is set at $500,000, and the investigation is ongoing. Authorities urge individuals with information to contact the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office at (+1)561-688-3000.