Osceola teacher accused of burning boy in her care

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Authorities have charged an Osceola County couple after a boy said he was burned with a cigarette lighter while in their custody.

Sheriff's deputies took a report of the alleged child abuse on Tuesday after the victim's mother said she noticed the burn mark.

The mother said that her son was staying with Thomas and Bianca Vacek for the past week and that the child said Bianca Vacek burned him with a lighter while she was intoxicated.

A doctor confirmed the boy was burned near his mouth and nose, authorities said.

During their investigation, detectives said they learned Thomas Vacek had knowledge of the burning and did not report it to law enforcement.

Detectives said the Vaceks both resisted arrest when deputies attempted to take them into custody.

Bianca Vacek has been charged with aggravated child abuse, battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest.

Thomas Vacek is charged with failure to report child abuse and resisting arrest.

WFTV has learned both suspects are employed by the Osceola County School District and work as teachers at Poinciana High School.

Students at Poinciana High were surprised to hear the accusations.

"You never know who you are dealing with, who you are messing with," said student Dyland Jean-Pierre.

The arrest was Bianca's first in Osceola County, but just the latest run-in with the law for Thomas.

He was arrested in 2005 after female students accused him of rubbing his groin on them.

A jury found him not guilty.

He was also arrested for domestic violence in 2005, but those charges were dropped.

Two other women got temporary domestic injunctions against him in 2003.

If the couple are found guilty of the latest charges, they could spend years in prison.

"Whatever the punishment is, they deserve it," said neighbor Eric Nunez.

The Osceola County School District said both teachers have been moved out of the classroom and into other positions where they are not around children, pending the outcome of the investigation.

WFTV