CELEBRATION, Fla. — Residents in the neighborhood of the Celebration High School coach who accused of sexual misconduct said they’re shocked a father would do this.
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News broke Thursday evening that that Samuel Figueroa was arrested on new charges after two more students came forward.
Now, the neighbors who saw Figueroa coming and going to work, they’re in disbelief when they look across the street to his home.
“I think it’s totally disgusting,” one neighbor said. “It’s horrible. I don’t know how anyone could be like that.”
READ: Osceola schools launches investigation after students claim staff ignored assault reports
Figueroa’s arrest affidavit says two more teenage girls came forward, alleging Figueroa forced them to take inappropriate photos or he wouldn’t give them a pass to get back to class.
He told one student he wanted to take her on a date, drink alcohol and smoke weed with her.
Sheila Nemeth lives a few homes down from Figueroa. She’s now worried about other children on her street and the children in her family.
“(I) think always, ‘Oh my god, when they grew up, what’s going to be better or going to be worse?’ Because right now, it’s very bad,” Nemeth said.
One victim revealed she tried to tell a school counselor about what was happening. Documents show the teen said the counselor if she’s under 18, she doesn’t want to know.
“If you’re trying to get help from someplace and you don’t get it, I think that’s totally horrible,” one neighbor said. “You should be able to get help no matter what age you are.”
Channel 9 reached out to the District Attorney about the allegations of the counselor not listening to or reporting the alleged abuse. The district attorney said the counselor was interviewed and claims the girl never came to her.
A school board member said any conduct that could be harmful to a student whether in school or online is supposed to be reported to authorities right away.
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