PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — A security guard is facing charges after, deputies say, he engaged in inappropriate conduct with a 14-year-old student at Somerset Academy Canyons in Boynton Beach.
Jamar Agard, 31, inappropriately touched the 14-year-old girl during school hours, according to an arrest report.
WATCH: School officials say Agard was fired in October 2024
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said the student's mother received a text message from her daughter at around 1:40 p.m. on Oct. 17, 2024, stating that she needed help. When her mother asked what happened, her daughter responded that a security guard at her school, "took her into the elevator, pinned her to the wall and kissed her." The student received bruising on her arm from the incident, deputies said.
According to the arrest report, the student told detectives that since August 2024, Agard had been flirting with her. She told detectives Agard gave her his cellphone number and they would text each other. One of the text messages consisted of Agard asking her what she was doing for the weekend.
And at school, Agard would make inappropriate comments about the student's body and her clothes, the report stated. On one occasion, Agard asked the student if "she likes older men" and if "she's had sex before."
The student told deputies due to Agard's behavior and how uncomfortable he made her feel, she avoided him while in school and would sometimes not attend school at all.
During questioning by PBSO deputies, Agard denied knowing the student was in middle school and during a search of his phone, deputies found over 2,000 text messages between Agard and the student.
Detectives also discovered three internet searches on Agard's phone, regarding "adults going to jail for soliciting minors."
WPTV received a statement from Lynn Norman-Teck with the Florida Charter School Alliance, on behalf of Somerset Academy:
The individual referenced in your inquiry has not been on the school campus since October 2024. School administrators contacted the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (PBSO) upon learning of the concerns raised by a student. The safety and well-being of our students is always our top priority, and we are committed to fully investigating any matter of concern and taking swift, appropriate action when necessary.
Agard is facing a charge of engaging in lewd conduct with a student by an authority figure.
WPTV speaks with cybersecurity expert on phone safety
Alan Crowetz, CEO of InfoStream Inc., says cases like this one are becoming increasingly common.
“It’s bad! Technology is getting better and better; fortunately, the new generation of parents and people in the workforce and home are more knowledgeable than they were years ago. But in general, things are getting worse, not better,” Crowetz added.
He emphasizes that parents shouldn’t just be worried about technology itself, but rather the cleverness of predators.
“The vast majority of predators rely on social engineering, tricking people—even bright adults get tricked all the time,” Crowetz explained.
Ahead of the new school year, Crowetz tells parents to be aware of red flags when it comes to phone safety.
“If somebody asks you for pictures or wants to meet—these may sound obvious to adults, but children fall for these traps all the time,” he said.
