Police inquiry ongoing

Athletic director suspected in child sexual exploitation

Palm Beach Gardens High School athletic director Bill Weed is under police investigation for suspected child sexual exploitation that involves se cretly videotaping a minor, according to Palm Beach Gardens police and court documents.

Weed is suspected of video voyeurism and having video and/or other visual images of a minor engaged in sexual activity, the docu- ments say. Both are felony violations.

No arrest has been made and no charges have been filed.

Confirming an active criminal investigation, Michael B. Edmondson, a spokesman for State Attorney Dave Aronberg in West Palm Beach, on Friday said no time frame has been set in the case.

Edmondson declined further comment.

Weed, 50, of Palm Beach Gardens, has been placed on administrative reassignment by Palm Beach County Schools, according to district officials. District spokesman Willie Williams, acknowledging an ongoing criminal investigation, last week said Weed is under review by the district’s personnel office.

Palm Beach Gardens principal Larry Clawson on Friday told parents the police probe was related to “an off-campus

incident.”

Clawson, in a robocall alerting parents of media reports about Weed early Friday, said, “I want to assure you that this individual is not working on our campus or on any other school campus at this time.”

Weed began at Palm Beach Gardens as a cross country and track coach in 1998 and became athletic director in 2006. The girls lacrosse coach since the team’s inception in 2014, Weed was not present for the Gators’ March 6 game at Jupiter High. Gardens’ season ended on March 31 at Cardinal Newman in West Palm Beach — a game he also missed.

According to police logs, a Palm Beach Gardens patrol officer and an investigator went to Weed’s home first on Feb. 19 and confiscated two unspecified items.

Further visits by police over the next five days resulted in the seizure of more than 40 items allegedly belonging to Weed that authorities believe are relevant to the investigation.

Court records show at least four digital cameras were confiscated by investigators, along with multiple computers and tablets, 11 cell phones and more than a dozen digital storage devices.

Weed could not be reached for comment. Calls to his phone prompted a message saying the number could not accept incoming calls. Attempts to reach Weed via email also were unsuccessful.

Under Florida law, video voyeurism involving a minor carries a maximum fiveyear prison term and $5,000 fine, while possessing images, video or visual depictions of a minor involved in sexual activity could result in 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Weed