Former teacher charged in sex act on boy, 15

A former Tamarac charter school teacher was released on bond Friday after being arrested on charges of engaging in a sex act with a 15-year-old boy he picked up on the side of the road.

Authorities became aware of the accusations after Sheldon McDonald, 34, reported his car stolen on Oct. 23.

McDonald told police he thought the person he picked up was 20 years old.

McDonald was driving down a road in Lauderhill in his Honda Accord when he saw the teen and asked if he needed a ride, according to a Broward Sheriffs Office arrest report.

He allegedly told the victim he needed a friend because he had just moved into the neighborhood and was gay. McDonald drove the teen to a parking lot near University Drive in Tamarac where he performed a sex act on the teen, according to the report.

McDonald then gave the victim $20, told him he could use the car and drove him back to McDonald’s apartment in Tamarac, according to the report.

McDonald said that while he was in the bathroom, he heard his front door shut and that when he came out he saw the victim driving away in his Accord, according to the report.

The teen was later pulled over with friends by Fort Lauderdale Police, who explained to him that the car was reported stolen. The teen then explained how and why he had the car, according to the report.

McDonald allegedly told deputies that he picked up the victim, they drove around a bit and that he performed a sex act on the young man.

A deputy asked McDonald if he knew the age of the victim and McDonald stated 20. The deputy told McDonald the victim was only 15 years old.

Deputies eventually got a sworn statement from the victim on Nov. 29. Authorities then arrested McDonald on Thursday.

McDonald worked at the Everest Charter School in Tamarac and is enrolled in Florida Atlantic University.

He was released on $5,000 bond, the conditions stipulate that he is to have no contact with the victim, has to wear a GPS monitoring device, and that his travel is limited to attending school.

McDonald was also ordered to surrender his passport. He holds a Jamaican passport but is in the U.S. as a legal permanent resident, according to his attorney, Magda Janicki.