Osceola looks into suspending pay of school board member accused of battery, alcohol crime
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – An Osceola County School Board member was charged with battery and selling, giving or serving alcoholic beverages to an 18-year-old female, according to the Osceola Sheriff’s Office.
Osceola County School Board Member Julius Melendez is facing charges after the Osceola Sheriff’s Office said they were notified July 1 of a “possible alcoholic beverage violation” that “continued as a possible sexual assault” involving an 18-year-old female.
General counsel for Osceola School Board, Frank Kruppenbacher, sent a letter to Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. Thursday asking for his “immediate guidance” on addressing Melendez’s salary.
“We are being asked that since Mr. Melendez is paid by the District as a School Board Member, if the district has the authority to suspend his pay,” Kruppenbacher wrote.
Kruppenbacher said in the letter to Diaz that he is “being repeatedly asked the question regarding [Melendez’s] salary and want[s] to ensure that the correct decision is made.” He noted that the governor has the sole authority to suspend him from office.
The sheriff’s office conducted an interview with the 18-year-old victim July 2.
According to the affidavit from the sheriff’s office, the victim started working at a cafe in April, which was partially owned by Melendez. The sheriff’s office said the 18-year-old alleged she was “having trouble getting to and from work” and that Melendez offered her to stay at his residence in Kissimmee.
She purportedly accepted the offer to stay at Melendez’s residence, and Melendez then picked her up from where she was staying June 29, according to the sheriff’s office.
The victim alleged that she and Melendez stopped at the cafe to check her work schedule where Melendez began to offer her alcoholic beverages before going to his home.
According to the affidavit, the victim said she drank three alcoholic beverages at the cafe before going to Melendez’s residence. The affidavit said the victim alleged that she recalled having “about six” alcoholic drinks while at Melendez’s residence.
According to the sheriff’s office, Melendez asked the 18-year-old “if he could kiss her” and the victim denied the request.
Melendez allegedly continued to offer her more alcoholic beverages, to which she rejected and said she “wanted to go to bed,” according to the affidavit.
The affidavit said when the 18-year-old went upstairs, Melendez “insisted on assisting” with her luggage. He then allegedly sat next to the female on the bed and “suddenly kissed [her] in the mouth,” and the victim “pushed him away, stating she had previously told Julius no,” according to the sheriff’s office.
The affidavit said Melendez “advised he was sorry and left the room.”
Following the incident, the 18-year-old told the sheriff’s office that she was “very uncomfortable” and “stayed awake crying all night and called a friend in fear that Julius would come back into the room again, which he did not.”
The following morning, according to the sheriff’s office, the victim “immediately called an Uber” and when she left the residence, she texted Melendez.
The text message exchange attached in the affidavit included:
18-year-old female: “I left, I do not work for you, I don’t want you to text me or my family ever again. As far as last night goes, you wanted me to drink so you could make sexual advances, and you kissed me even after I said no.”
Melendez: “I’m sorry.”
Melendez: “I have the most utmost respect for you, I’m truly sorry for misunderstanding the vibe we had last night”
Text message exchange between Osceola School Board Member Julius Melendez and 18-year-old female victim.
Editor’s note: Florida’s Voice reached out to Melendez Friday for a comment but did not receive one.
