Florida teacher Elias Farley used Google Docs to groom underage student before sex crime: affidavit

A shocking incident has come to light in Palm Beach County, Florida, where a science teacher has been arrested for allegedly engaging in sexual acts with a student. Elias Gordon Farley, 26, a former teacher at Donna Klein Jewish Academy in Boca Raton, was taken into custody after the student reported the abuse on November 18.

The student revealed that the interactions began innocently as casual conversations during the previous school year but took a dark turn over the summer. Farley allegedly created a shared Google Doc where explicit messages were exchanged, describing sexual activity and planning private meetings.

According to the arrest affidavit, the relationship turned physical in mid-September when Farley touched the student inappropriately in his office. The encounters continued for weeks, progressing to sexual acts including oral sex and intercourse inside a classroom on campus.

The student disclosed that she visited Farley’s apartment twice in early November, where further sexual encounters took place. A search warrant executed by detectives uncovered bedding, condom wrappers, and furniture matching her descriptions. Farley’s roommate confirmed his absence on the dates the student claimed to have visited.

Surveillance footage from the school supported the student’s account, showing Farley and the student entering his office and a classroom together on specific dates. The student confided in an art teacher about the abuse, showing bruises and bite marks allegedly inflicted by Farley. School administrators were notified, and Farley was suspended immediately and reported to child welfare authorities.

Farley, who faces charges of unlawful sexual activity with a minor and offense against a student by an authority figure, refused to speak with detectives after being read his Miranda rights. He is currently held at the Palm Beach County Main Detention Center on a $500,000 bond.

In response to the incident, Donna Klein Jewish Academy stated that they are cooperating fully with the investigation and emphasized the well-being of their students, faculty, and families. The school is providing support to those affected and maintaining a safe and educational environment. Farley is no longer employed at the school, and the investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office at 561-688-3000. The school has refrained from releasing further details to respect the privacy of their community.