Lake Minneola High School band director bonds out of jail after sexual assault charges

LAKE MINNEOLA, Fla. — The band director at Lake Minneola High School in Lake County bonded out of jail Wednesday after being arrested and charged with five counts of sexual assault of a minor.

Jon North, who has worked at the school since it opened in 2011, was arrested Wednesday on the charges, the Lake County Sheriff's Office said.

According to a message from the Lake Minneola High School principal to parents, North resigned his position at the school Tuesday.

A social media post was what sparked the school to investigate North, investigators said.

No information was released on the nature of the post.

The alleged incidents happened in late 2015 and early 2016, a Lake County Sheriff's Office report said.

The student involved told investigators that his relationship with North started via text but later became physical and then sexual, the report said.

North allegedly confessed to the relationship.

"He advised he stopped when he realized it was wrong," the report said.

North told investigators that he had a "prior sexual 'situation' with another former student, but only after he turned 18," the report said.

"We are going to verify that," Lake County Sgt. Jim Vachon said. "In cases like this, there are sometimes other victims who have not come forward. So, we're going to do our best to find out if there's anybody else out there."

North's neighbor, Deanna Bellin, was upset to hear about the charges against the now-former high school band director.

"I am disappointed and shocked, you know?" she said. "Whenever you hear something like that."

North did not comment on the charges when he bonded out of the Lake County Jail Wednesday night.

Cox Media Group