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Florida elementary school principal faces charges for allegedly beating special needs student

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OCALA, Fla. – A Central Florida school administrator is facing charges after deputies said he was caught on camera beating a student.

Marion County Sheriff’s deputies said Dontay Prophet, 33, was arrested after he was caught on camera last Friday striking the child several times with a charging cable and placing him in a chokehold. They said the abuse went on for about 40 minutes.

Deputies said at one point when the child attempted to escape and hide under a table, he twisted his ankle.

Prophet, the principal of the Ocala elementary school, said the altercation was an attempt to prevent the child from harming himself.

Authorities said the evidence contradicted those claims and it was not the first time Prophet has been accused of assaulting a child.

In 2019 the then camp-counselor was arrested after allegedly inviting a boy to his home, where the boy claimed he inappropriately touched him.

The police report states Prophet told the victim he had a similar encounter with one other student.

Those charges were ultimately dropped.

The Marion County Sheriff’s office said it is unclear if the school was aware of the prior incidents.

Prophet is being held without bond on charges of aggravated child abuse and false imprisonment of a child under the age of 13.

He has been placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation.


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Kristi Krueger has built a solid reputation as an award-winning medical reporter and effervescent anchor. She joined Local 10 in August 1993. After many years co-anchoring the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m., Kristi now co-anchors the noon newscasts, giving her more time in the evening with her family.

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