Marsel Smith, 27, was ordered to stay away from minors and the alleged victim after a weekend court hearing.
OAKLAND PARK, FL — A former Broward County substitute teacher accused of sexual misconduct involving a student appeared before a judge Saturday after his arrest by Oakland Park police, court and school officials said.
Marsel Javaris Smith, 27, faces charges tied to an alleged relationship with a minor while he worked as a substitute teacher at Northeast High School. Broward County Public Schools said Smith was not a district employee but worked through Kelly Education, a staffing agency used for substitute assignments. School officials said he is no longer allowed to work as a substitute anywhere in the district.
Smith was arrested Friday, April 24, after an investigation involving allegations at Northeast High School in Oakland Park. At a Saturday bond hearing, a judge said Smith was charged with soliciting or engaging in a romantic relationship as an authority figure with a minor and sexual battery by a person 24 or older on a victim who was 16 or 17. The judge found probable cause and ordered Smith to have no contact with minors or the alleged victim while the case moves forward.
Anthony Valachovic, principal of Northeast High School, told parents and staff in a message that the school was notified of the arrest and was cooperating with law enforcement. “We are deeply disturbed by the allegations and are working closely with the Broward Sheriff’s Office regarding this matter,” Valachovic said in the message. He said the safety and security of students and staff remained the school’s highest priorities. District officials said they could not release more details because the investigation remains active.
Smith worked through Kelly Education rather than directly for Broward County Public Schools, according to the district’s statement. The staffing arrangement placed him in a temporary classroom role at Northeast High School, a public school in Oakland Park. Officials have not said how long Smith worked at the school, whether he had assignments at other Broward campuses or when the alleged misconduct began. School officials said only that he is barred from future substitute work across the district.
During the bond hearing, Smith’s attorney asked the court to lower the bond amount, saying Smith could not post the original amounts tied to the charges. The attorney told the court Smith had lived in South Florida for about 25 years, had family in the area and worked as both a substitute teacher and a security officer in Broward County. The judge set bond at $30,000 and added the no-contact restrictions involving minors and the alleged victim.
The charges place the case in both a school safety and criminal court setting. The first count centers on an alleged romantic relationship involving an authority figure and a minor. The second count alleges sexual battery involving a 16- or 17-year-old victim and an adult who is at least 24. Prosecutors will decide how to proceed as investigators gather records, statements and other evidence. Court records available over the weekend did not show that Smith had entered a plea.
The case prompted a notice to Northeast High families as the district worked to separate Smith from its campuses and substitute system. The principal’s message identified Smith as an individual who was not a Broward County Public Schools employee but had worked through Kelly Education. The message said school leaders were working with the Broward Sheriff’s Office. It did not name the student, describe the alleged conduct in detail or say whether the allegation involved school grounds.
Authorities have released few details about the investigation. Local police made the arrest, and school officials referred questions about the case to law enforcement. Kelly Education had not publicly responded to requests for comment as of Sunday. The district said the matter remains under investigation, which limits what administrators can say while officers and prosecutors review the allegations.
Smith was scheduled to return to court Monday, April 27. He remained under orders to avoid contact with minors and the alleged victim as the case continued through Broward County court.
Author note: Last updated April 26, 2026.