Kissimmee Youth Academy security guard charged with unlawful sexual activity with a minor
Osceola County Florida May 16th, 2023
A female security guard has been arrested in Osceola County, according to the sheriff’s office.
According to officials, the incidents occurred when the woman was working at the Kissimmee Youth Academy as an overnight guard.
Rachelle Edwards, 33, is charged with unlawful sexual activity with a minor and indecent, lewd, or lascivious touching.
“Not only does it scar this child for life, but it also scars law enforcement,” said Osceola County Sheriff Marcos R. Lopez.
It doesn’t matter in what capacity you are, you know, we need to start changing the way we conduct ourselves in society, especially here in Florida in Osceola County,” Lopez said during a news conference on Tuesday.
The juvenile, a 17-year-old boy, told his mother about the incident and she called law enforcement, the sheriff said.
Lopez said initially the boy and the suspect denied anything happened, but the 17-year-old came forward recently to authorities.
“He said three weeks after the juvenile arrived at the center, he got a letter from the guard asking his age. They started writing letters back and forth. And at one point the juvenile was moved from one cell to another the cell. (The one) he was moved to did not have a camera and that’s where all the sexual misconduct, to our knowledge at this point, took place,” the sheriff said.
Lopez said it is being reviewed why the 17-year-old was moved to another cell.
Edwards faces charges of unlawful sexual activity with a minor and indecent, lewd or lascivious touching.