Palm Beach County Teacher Arrested on Sexual Abuse Charges After Using Google Docs to Groom Student
BOCA RATON, Fla. — Elias Gordon Farley, a 26-year-old former science teacher at Donna Klein Jewish Academy in Palm Beach County, was arrested on December 6, 2025, after authorities uncovered evidence that he allegedly groomed and sexually abused a minor student. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by law enforcement, Farley used a shared Google Docs file to secretly communicate with the student, exchanging messages that evolved from casual conversations to explicit descriptions of sexual activity and plans to meet privately.
The investigation began after the student reported the abuse on November 18, 2025. She told detectives that the inappropriate interactions started during the previous school year but intensified over the summer when Farley created the shared document to facilitate their exchanges. The affidavit details that by mid-September, the relationship became physical, with encounters occurring in Farley’s office and a classroom on campus. The student described multiple sexual acts, including oral sex and intercourse, taking place at the school.
Further allegations include visits to Farley’s apartment in early November, where additional sexual encounters reportedly occurred. Deputies executing a search warrant at the residence found bedding, condom wrappers, and furniture matching the student’s descriptions. Farley’s roommate corroborated that Farley was not home on the dates the student indicated.
Surveillance footage reviewed by the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office showed Farley and the student entering his office and a classroom together, supporting the timeline of events described by the victim. The situation came to light after the student confided in an art teacher on November 14, showing bruises and bite marks she attributed to Farley. School administrators promptly suspended Farley and reported the matter to child welfare authorities.
Farley is currently held on a $500,000 bond and faces multiple felony charges related to sexual abuse of a minor. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the case, emphasizing the importance of vigilance in protecting students from exploitation.
This case highlights the growing concern over digital platforms being misused for grooming minors. The use of a shared Google Doc as a covert communication tool underscores the challenges educators and law enforcement face in monitoring inappropriate interactions. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and local agencies have increased efforts to detect and prevent such abuse.
Parents and educators are urged to remain attentive to signs of grooming and abuse. The Department of Health and Human Services provides resources for recognizing and reporting suspected child abuse. Meanwhile, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with information related to this or similar cases to come forward.
Farley’s arrest follows a troubling national pattern of educators abusing their positions of trust. Recent cases, such as the conviction of a Missouri substitute teacher for trading money and drugs for sex with students, demonstrate the ongoing risks within school environments. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Healthy Students continues to advocate for safer school climates and stronger preventive measures.
As the legal process unfolds, the community grapples with the impact of such betrayals of trust. The victim’s courage in reporting the abuse has been pivotal in bringing the case to light, underscoring the critical role of support systems within schools. Authorities remain committed to ensuring justice is served and safeguarding the welfare of all students.
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