MARION COUNTY, Fla. — The Marion County Sheriff’s Office said a principal was arrested Saturday on child abuse charges.
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The Sheriff’s Office said Dontay Akeem Prophet, 33, was arrested on charges of aggravated child abuse and false imprisonment of a child under 13 years old.
Deputies said the arrest stems from a Friday incident at Destiny Leadership Academy on North U.S. Highway 441.
MCSO said a deputy responded to a call regarding a physical disturbance between Prophet and a student.
Read: Marion County elementary teacher accused of inappropriately touching student
During the investigation, surveillance footage from the classroom showed Prophet preventing the child from leaving the room for over 40 minutes.
The video shows Prophet grabbing the victim, restraining the child on the ground and employing a chokehold, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The news release said that Prophet was seen on camera using a charging cable to hit the child, causing him to fall and sustain injuries.
Prophet was also seen twisting the child’s ankle, slapping the child in the face and subjecting him to further physical abuse, MCSO said.
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Deputies said that Prophet claimed that the altercation was an attempt to prevent harm to the child.
Prophet was arrested and taken to the Marion County Jail, where he is being held without bail.
Destiny Leadership Academy provided Channel 9 with the following statement Saturday:
“Dear Parents/Guardians,
We are reaching out to inform you of a serious matter regarding Destiny Leadership Academy (DLA), which involved the intervention of the Marion County Sheriff Department. We are dedicated to providing transparent communication, even in challenging circumstances. On Friday evening (May 10th), the Marion County Sheriff Department arrested Mr. Donnie Prophet, Principal at DLA, on charges related to aggravated child abuse. Consequently, Mr. Prophet’s employment with the school was terminated, effective immediately. Despite this transition, our commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our students remains unwavering. We will continue to uphold our standards of excellence and nurture an environment where every child can flourish academically, socially, and spiritually. We understand that this may be upsetting for some students-and staff. Therefore, support services will be available. We invite you to a parent meeting on Monday, May 13th at 6 pm to address any concerns you may have. However, please do keep in mind that because this is a police matter, there is little that we are able to share and there is much we do not know. Your ongoing support is deeply appreciated, and we are grateful for your trust in our school community. Together, we will navigate this transition with resilience, staying true to our shared values and mission. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding during this time. We remain committed to bringing out the greatness in every child entrusted to our care.
Warm regards,
Dr. Elvira Hagins (Dr. Vi)
Executive Principal”
In 2019, Prophet was arrested for inappropriately touching a student when he was a teacher at South Ocala Elementary.
He pleaded no contest in that case and was sentenced to one year of probation almost two years ago. Click here to read more about that case.
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