The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) has announced the arrest of Joseph Prevatte, a 39-year-old substitute teacher, following allegations of inappropriate communication with a high school student in Manatee County. The investigation began on October 31, 2024, when a tip was received through FortifyFL, a platform designed to report suspicious activity in schools.
Upon receiving the tip, the school promptly notified the Florida Abuse Hotline, and the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and MCSO detectives launched a thorough investigation. The Manatee County School Board immediately barred Prevatte from working within the district pending the investigation’s outcome.
Detectives discovered that Prevatte had exchanged messages with the victim on Instagram over several weeks, some of which carried a sexual undertone. Prevatte also sent the student an image of himself unclothed, although the image was cropped to exclude his genitalia.
Based on these findings, MCSO detectives developed probable cause to charge Prevatte with Soliciting or Engaging in Lewd Conduct with a Student, a second-degree felony. He was arrested in Hillsborough County on November 8, 2024.
During the investigation, it was revealed that the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) was also probing Prevatte for inappropriate conduct involving another minor in Hillsborough County.
On November 19, 2024, HCSO deputies arrested Prevatte for Lewd or Lascivious Battery and Harmful Explicit Communication to a Minor. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office will provide further details regarding their case.
In addition to his role as a substitute teacher, Joseph Prevatte serves as an intelligence non-commissioned officer with a Reserve detachment of Special Operations Command. He has been a member of the Army Reserve since 2007, following active-duty service from 2003 to 2007. Prevatte’s current assignment began on March 14, 2022.
The Army Reserve has issued the following statement regarding the situation:
“The Army Reserve is aware of the incident and will continue to closely monitor the situation. We take matters such as this seriously, and our primary concern is ensuring that all legal and appropriate actions are taken in accordance with our commitment to upholding the highest standards of conduct among our soldiers and civilian personnel,” said John Bradley, spokesperson for the Army Reserve Command.
Investigations are ongoing and additional charges may be filed as new evidence emerges. Authorities encourage anyone with information related to these incidents to contact the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office or the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
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