RIVERVIEW, Fla. (WFLA) — A high school principal was arrested on Friday and charged with failure to report child abuse, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said.
The investigation began in May, when a 4-year-old was inappropriately touched by a 16-year-old while at the daycare operated at Spoto High School, HCSO said.
In April, it was reported to the principal, 42-year-old Jazrick Haggins, but went unreported to the Department of Children and Families and law enforcement for two weeks.
As an educator, Haggins is a mandatory reporter under state law and is required to immediately report allegations of child abuse or neglect to authorities.
The sheriff’s office said Haggins admitted to knowing about the allegations but claimed he was conducting his own investigation.
He was arrested on Friday and booked into the Polk County Jail and is on hold for transfer to Hillsborough County.