Christian School Teacher Admits to Inappropriately Photographing ‘Naive’ Female Student

A teacher at a Christian School in Florida is facing serious charges after he was spotted taking pictures of a 5th-grade girl during recess.

According to court documents viewed by Globe, Joel Gould was taken into custody on Tuesday, October 27, following a brief investigation and charged with digital voyeurism by a family member or person of trust or authority.

In an arrest affidavit also viewed by Globe, police say they were initially made aware of an incident at Ocala Christian Academy on Friday, October 23. A student told their parent they witnessed Gould call another student over to a picnic table at recess and instructed her to stand on the seat. The student then witnessed him put his phone underneath the girl’s uniform skirt and appear to take photos.

The alleged victim later stated that she felt Gould’s phone touching her leg several times during the incident, per the affidavit. Her parents noted she was “naive” and didn’t understand what was happening.

The witness’ concerned mother contacted the school and reported the incident. She also contacted the parents of the alleged victim who had not been contacted by the school. The administration had been instructed not to do so by police, according to the affidavit.

After getting the initial report, principal Sharon Loyd pulled Gould into her office and asked him about the incident. Loyd described his demeanor as cooperative, even volunteering his cell phone to be searched by her and another administrator they’d called into the office. Loyd did, however, tell police that Gould needed a trash can because he thought he was going to be sick at hearing the allegations.

When his phone was searched, the administrator found nothing of note in his camera roll. Still, Loyd contacted the local Sheriff’s Department and was told not to contact the victim’s family due to a lack of substantial evidence. While there, though, a police officer asked the administrator if Gould’s recently deleted folder had been checked, but Loyd was unaware that was possible.

Upon reviewing what the affidavit described as grainy video evidence from the recess moment in question that seemingly corroborated the initial witness’ story, police called in Gould for an in-person interview, which he agreed to do.

During the lengthy interview, Gould continued to deny taking photos of the girl and willingly surrendered his phone for a forensic analysis.

Eventually, Gould reportedly asked if it was “too late to start being honest.”

He admitted to taking the photos, saying he “couldn’t fight the temptations,” per the affidavit. He stated that his poor decision was due to the fact that he and his wife, who had just had a baby, had not been intimate for a while.

Gould was taken into custody on the spot. He is expected in court for a plea hearing on November 1.