A North Miami man who is a charter school employee is facing sexual battery on a minor charges but his mother is speaking out to deny the claims.
Clenol Arnold Jean, 23, was arrested on five counts of Sexual battery on a minor Wednesday. He appeared in court Thursday where he was ordered held without bond.
His attorney said Jean has no criminal history and should not be held without bond. The attorney said he'll be heading back to court to seek Jean's release on bond.
"He will never ever do such a thing," Jean's mother, who didn't want to be identified, told NBC 6 Thursday. "This is a Christian boy who never ever go out. All he does is do his music and go preach."
The mother said that as a favor, her family would take care of some kids from their church, including the alleged victim, a 4-year-old girl. The girl told her mother she was touched on her privates by Jean while attending an unlicensed daycare run by Jean's grandmother in the 1500 block of Northeast 142nd Street, according to a police report.
The child said the incident happened five times, the report said. Jean denied touching the child in a sexual manner, the report said.
Renaissance Charter School at Plantation confirmed Thursday that Jean has been employed at the school for a very short time and said they are cooperating with authorities.
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"Our highest priority is the safety and security of our students. All who are hired must undergo a thorough background check prior to employment at our school. If a person is cleared, that means that person does not have any prior history that prevents them from being employed," school officials said in a statement. "As we are sure you can appreciate, we are not at liberty to discuss any personnel issues."
Neighbor Carol Genty said she's known Jean since he was a baby and was stunned by the allegations.
"It's not fair...I think it's a lie, a lie about him," Genty said. "I trust him."
Meanwhile, Jean's mother is hoping her son will be cleared of the charges, saying she "wants justice."
"He's a wonderful boy, he's a great boy who works very hard and somebody is trying to destroy him," she said.
