Florida Teacher Accused of Grooming 13-Year-Old Student While Forming Relationship With Her Mother

A former Florida middle school teacher has been charged with custodial sexual battery and grooming after allegedly using a romantic relationship with a student's mother as cover to gain access to her 13-year-old daughter.

Daniel Philip Le Lievre, 41, of Oviedo, Florida, was arrested at his home on Beckstrom Drive on the night of 30 March 2026, according to the Oviedo Police Department. He had previously taught at Tuskawilla Middle School, a Seminole County Public Schools campus, from 4 August 2022 through 3 May 2024. He is being held without bond at Seminole County Jail and is due to be arraigned on 26 May 2026.

How Le Lievre Allegedly Used the Classroom to Groom the Victim

According to the arrest affidavit, Le Lievre allegedly began grooming the girl while he and the victim's mother were in a romantic relationship that lasted from October 2023 through early January 2024. During that period, the mother and her children regularly spent nights at Le Lievre's residence in Oviedo. Police say he exploited his dual role as both the girl's teacher and her mother's partner to manufacture unsupervised access to the child.

At school, the affidavit states Le Lievre spent time alone with the girl in his classroom before, during, and after class hours. He also allegedly manipulated the school's student management system, accessing the girl's academic account without her mother's knowledge or consent to move her into additional classes he taught. Seminole County Public Schools confirmed on the record that Le Lievre's employment ran from August 2022 to May 2024, and that he was placed on administrative leave on 26 April 2024 following allegations of inappropriate communications with a minor.

Police say Le Lievre kept a dedicated drawer in his classroom desk stocked with personal items belonging to the student, including perfume and a blanket. He allegedly taught her Morse code as a method of covert communication and created what the affidavit describes as 'throwaway' email addresses and websites for the same purpose. Investigators say he repeatedly instructed the girl to delete records of their conversations and clear her browser history.

Outside of school, the girl's mother told police she found Le Lievre holding her daughter's hands at Disney Springs, a commercial entertainment district in Orlando. She also reported catching him speaking with the girl by phone in the middle of the night on multiple occasions. Investigators say Le Lievre also opened a bank account in the student's name and deposited money into it.

The Alleged Sexual Battery on Christmas Eve 2023

The alleged sexual assault took place in the middle of the night before Christmas Day 2023, when the mother and her children were spending the night at Le Lievre's Oviedo home. According to the arrest affidavit, as reported by WTSP, the 13-year-old got up to use the bathroom when Le Lievre followed her inside.

The girl told investigators Le Lievre instructed her to remove her clothes. She said he then had sexual intercourse with her on the bathroom floor. According to the affidavit, cited by Scallywag and Vagabond, neither spoke during the encounter, and afterwards he told her 'not to tell anyone what happened.' Both the mother and daughter came forward to report the alleged assault during a forensic interview in February 2026, more than two years after the incident.

Le Lievre's relationship with the girl's mother ended in January 2024. Police say that when the relationship concluded, he told the mother he had only been dating her in order to get closer to her daughter. During his arrest at his home on the night of 30 March 2026, Le Lievre initially told officers he did not know why they were at his door.

When asked whether he wished to discuss allegations of sexual battery, he responded: 'That's probably not a good idea without a lawyer,' according to the arrest affidavit. Body camera footage of the arrest was subsequently released by Oviedo Police.

School District Investigations and Formal Charges

This was not the first time Le Lievre had come under scrutiny at Seminole County Public Schools. The arrest report states he was investigated by the school board on two separate occasions in 2024, with both investigations concluding that he had violated district policies relating to 'student abuse, abandonment and neglect' and 'relationships with students,' according to Scallywag and Vagabond. It is not publicly confirmed whether those internal investigations involved the same victim named in the criminal case.

Seminole County Public Schools confirmed to NBC affiliate WESH that Le Lievre resigned in lieu of termination during the 2024 investigations and is not eligible for rehire. In a formal statement, the district said: 'The safety of our students and staff is our highest priority, and any type of behavior that undermines that safety will not be tolerated at Seminole County Public Schools.'

Le Lievre now faces two formal charges: custodial sexual battery on a victim between the ages of 12 and 18, and a sexual offence by an authority figure soliciting a romantic relationship with a student, as confirmed by FOX 35 Orlando and WFLA. Both are serious felony-level allegations under Florida law. At his first court appearance on 1 April 2026, the presiding judge ordered him held without bond.

Le Lievre's arraignment is set for 26 May 2026 in Seminole County; he has not entered a plea.