VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — A 23-year-old man who coaches volleyball and advises students at T. Dewitt Taylor Middle-High School in Pierson performed a sexual act on 14-year-old boy Monday afternoon in a school bathroom, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office said.
The boy’s mother told a school-resource deputy at about 2 p.m. that her son said he had been sexually abused by a school staff member two hours earlier, Sheriff’s Office spokesman Andrew Gant said.
Investigators interviewed the victim, who said Keyunta Murphy contacted him during class and told him to come to the office with him, Gant said.
Deputies said the victim went with Murphy, but instead of going to the office, the two went to a gymnasium bathroom on the middle school side of campus, where Murphy performed oral sex on the boy in a bathroom stall.
“The victim indicated he and Murphy had previously conversed through Instagram, and Murphy had offered in an Instagram message to pay the victim '$200 to touch it,'" Gant said. “A detective reviewed Instagram messages between Murphy and the victim and confirmed they had discussed Monday’s meeting in the gym bathroom.”
Investigators said they also found messages from Murphy asking for photographs of the boy’s genitals and offering to pay him.
Murphy was arrested at his Pierson home at about midnight. Detectives said he chose to not speak with them.
Murphy was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail on charges of lewd or lascivious battery on a victim under 16, using a computer to seduce/solicit/lure a child and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
He was released Tuesday on a $50,000 bond.
Deputies said no other potential victims have been identified, but they ask parents to talk with their children.
Anyone with information about additional incidents should contact detectives at 386-323-3574 or Crime Stoppers at 888-277-8477.
No other details were given.
Cox Media Group
