A Lake Mary high school track coach off the job and suspended without pay says he plans to fight his suspension.
Track coach Willie Pauldo is accused of using his classroom computer to download explicit sexual images.
Officials said the pictures were accessed in 2004 and 2007 but weren't discovered until the district recently switched out his computer.
Pauldo's attorney said the explicit images found on the computer were from a virus that was attached to spam emails nine years ago.
One of Pauldo's students, Carralyce Buford, said she is doing everything she can save her former coach's job.
"It's very difficult to sit back and watch and let it happen," Carralyce said.
She said Pauldo was a mentor, and she's not alone.
"He really stood for something, and we feel that we need to stand for him," said student Carl Buford.
Pauldo said he's spent the last 16 years mentoring and educating kids and sat down with Eyewitness News to defend himself and his character.
"First and foremost, I don't know how they got on there," Pauldo said.
"For this to come out, like I am some kind of deviant or something like that, it just kills me," Pauldo said.
Pauldo has been in trouble before for inappropriate language and making demeaning comments towards his female students, according to Ron Pinnell, the executive director of human resources for Seminole County Public Schools.
Pauldo said he's hired a lawyer to see if he can stop the district from ending his career.
Students' parents and former students took their fight to a school board meeting and have started circulating a petition that has garnered more than 150 signatures.
Despite their attempt, those supporters were turned away from speaking Wednesday night because Pauldo's case is still pending.
"Sounds like you plan to fight this to the end?" asked Channel 9's Kenneth Craig.
"Yes, yes. Yes. Because, because this is what I'm supposed to do," Pauldo said.
Track coach Willie Pauldo is accused of using his classroom computer to download explicit sexual images.
Officials said the pictures were accessed in 2004 and 2007 but weren't discovered until the district recently switched out his computer.
Pauldo's attorney said the explicit images found on the computer were from a virus that was attached to spam emails nine years ago.
One of Pauldo's students, Carralyce Buford, said she is doing everything she can save her former coach's job.
"It's very difficult to sit back and watch and let it happen," Carralyce said.
She said Pauldo was a mentor, and she's not alone.
"He really stood for something, and we feel that we need to stand for him," said student Carl Buford.
Pauldo said he's spent the last 16 years mentoring and educating kids and sat down with Eyewitness News to defend himself and his character.
"First and foremost, I don't know how they got on there," Pauldo said.
"For this to come out, like I am some kind of deviant or something like that, it just kills me," Pauldo said.
Pauldo has been in trouble before for inappropriate language and making demeaning comments towards his female students, according to Ron Pinnell, the executive director of human resources for Seminole County Public Schools.
Pauldo said he's hired a lawyer to see if he can stop the district from ending his career.
Students' parents and former students took their fight to a school board meeting and have started circulating a petition that has garnered more than 150 signatures.
Despite their attempt, those supporters were turned away from speaking Wednesday night because Pauldo's case is still pending.
"Sounds like you plan to fight this to the end?" asked Channel 9's Kenneth Craig.
"Yes, yes. Yes. Because, because this is what I'm supposed to do," Pauldo said.
WFTV
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