Judge sets $25,000 bond for Broward teacher charged with sexual misconduct

A Broward County teacher who was arrested on alarming criminal allegations appeared before a judge on Wednesday.

Lem McKinney, was booked on charges of soliciting/engaging in sexual contact as an authority figure, according to online jail records.

He was a social sciences teacher at J.P. Taravella High School in Coral Springs.

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During his court appearance, a judge set McKinney's bond to $25,000 and ordered him to not have contact with minors, except for his children, cannot have contact with the alleged victim, and is not allowed to return to J.P. Taravella High School.

According to an arrest report, the victim, a 16-year-old girl, provided a sworn statement to officers that said she was a student in McKinney's African American History class since the beginning of 2024.

The victim said since the school year started, McKinney would talk to her about intimate topics such as his romantic and sexual experiences. She also said he made her feel comfortable to talk about her personal life and the two formed a bond, the report said.

McKinney, the report said, would continue to solicit a relationship with the victim over a six-month period.

During this time, McKinney and the victim would talk after class and the victim would wait for him in the hallways to continue their conversations, the report said.

On Feb. 10, McKinney, the report said, approached the victim and told her he searched for her on social media. After confirming the account was hers, McKinney followed her and started to message her.

In their conversations, McKinney said he would delete all the messages and said "remember this ain't new to me," the report stated.

As they continued to message each other on social media, McKinney, the report said, would tell her inappropriate things such as "I have been very good lately but there is so much I can take."

The victim also made mention of McKinney's marriage and said she hoped things would work out with his wife, the report said.

McKinney, the report said, also told the victim that he's cheated on his wife and asked if she would cheat.

Things would further escalate after McKinney told the victim that he fantasized about kissing her and would cheat on his wife with her, the report said.

McKinney, the report said, told the victim "I'm a pleaser… I'm down to do whatever you want."

He was then taken into custody on Tuesday.

Broward County Public Schools officials said McKinney was reassigned away from students pending the outcome of the investigation.

McKinney has been at J.P. Taravella since 2022.