ORLANDO, Fla. – A substitute teacher was arrested following allegations of inappropriate conduct in a classroom full of students, the Orlando Police Department said.
According to the arrest affidavit, multiple seventh-grade students at Howard Middle School reported witnessing Daniel Jeremiah Huerta, 27, engaged in lewd behavior during class on Oct. 9.
Students said that Huerta was aroused, touching himself, and viewing nude photos on his phone while supervising the class.
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A school resource officer was informed by the assistant principal about the disturbing reports and the principal then notified Kelly Education, the company that hires teachers for school districts in Central Florida, who contacted Huerta regarding the allegations, the affidavit states.
The depicted photograph is a true and accurate representation of the exact classroom the incident occurred, according to an arrest affidavit. (NINTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR ORANGE COUNTY)
Detectives interviewed several students privately. One student described his laughing as a “witch’s laugh like a creepy snicker.”
During a phone interview with a detective, Huerta admitted to rubbing an erection while looking at his phone, but claimed he was scrolling through Instagram and did not recall specific details, police said. He acknowledged that he sometimes becomes aroused randomly and said he usually “sits down and tries to cover it up,” the affidavit states.
Upon executing a search at Huerta’s residence, law enforcement collected clothing with stains consistent with the allegations, according to the affidavit.
Huerta was charged with offenses against students by an authority figure and an unnatural or lascivious act.
News 6 received the following statement from Orange County Public Schools about Huerta’s arrest:
Families at Howard Middle School were notified that we were made aware of an arrest of a former substitute. Substitutes are not employed by Orange County Public Schools. We take any allegation very seriously as the safety of students and staff is our top priority. This individual will not be substituting in our school or any OCPS school and will not be anywhere near our school due to an ongoing investigation.
Orange County Public Schools
According to the arrest affidavit, Huerta has worked for Kelly Education since December 2024 and also works at SeaWorld in Guest Arrival. He also previously worked at Disney World as a busser in a restaurant, the affidavit states.
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