Former Coral Springs Charter School Teacher Arrested for Sexual Abuse of a Student

A Coral Springs teacher has been arrested and charged with sexually abusing a teenage boy he met while the child was a student at Coral Springs Charter School — a school operated by Charter Schools USA.

According to the Coral Springs Police Department, Joseph Michael Melendez, 33, abused the victim when he was a freshman and sophomore, between the ages of 13 and 17. At the time, Melendez was entrusted with overseeing the school’s American Sign Language Club. Police allege that he used this role to gain the student’s trust, making him feel like his “favorite” before initiating inappropriate conversations and sexualized behavior.

Investigators report that the grooming began in January 2018, when Melendez introduced the student to homosexual pornography and exchanged personal phone numbers. Police say Melendez told the student he had more “experience in what was considered pleasurable.” By December 2018, he was allegedly driving the student to his apartment, where the abuse took place. A spokesperson for Charter Schools USA confirmed in a statement that Melendez no longer works at the school.

Melendez now faces one count of sexual battery of a victim between the ages of 12 and 18, two counts of lewd and lascivious battery of a victim aged 12 to 16, and one count of lewd and lascivious molestation.

This is not the first time Charter Schools USA has faced allegations involving abuse. In 2014, Herman Law represented a young student who was repeatedly sexually abused at a Downtown Miami Charter School operated by Charter Schools USA. The case resulted in a $5.25 million jury verdict against the institution for failing to protect the student.

Educational institutions have a legal and moral responsibility to protect children in their care. When they fail, whether through negligence, poor oversight, or willful ignorance, they can and should be held accountable.

Our Commitment to Survivors

At Herman Law, we represent survivors of childhood sexual abuse in civil lawsuits against the institutions that enabled the abuse. We understand how difficult it is to come forward, particularly when the perpetrator was a trusted authority figure.

If you or someone you know was abused by Joseph Michael Melendez, or by an educator affiliated with Charter Schools USA or another institution, we encourage you to contact us. We offer free, confidential consultations to help survivors understand their rights and pursue justice. Your story matters. Your voice matters. When you’re ready to talk, we’re ready to listen.

Source

De La Rosa, C., Lowe, R., & Mackey, R. (2025, August 7). Coral Springs teacher arrested for sexually abusing teenage boy he met as student, police say. WPLG Local 10. https://www.local10.com/news/local/2025/08/07/police-confirm-arrest-of-coral-springs-charter-school-teacher/