Daniel Philip Le Lievre, a 41-year-old teacher from Oviedo, Florida, was arrested March 30 and accused of grooming and sexually abusing the 13-year-old daughter of a woman he dated. Authorities say the relationship began in October 2023 and included overnight stays at Le Lievre’s home. Investigators allege he used covert communication methods—such as "throwaway" emails and Morse code—kept a drawer at school with the child’s items, and established secret accounts for her. He faces two counts of sexual assault by a custodian; his plea has not been entered.
Teacher Allegedly Dated Student’s Mother To Groom 13-Year-Old, Police Say
Daniel Le Lievre.Credit: Seminole County Sheriff’s Office
A Florida teacher was arrested after authorities say he dated a student’s mother as part of an effort to groom her 13-year-old daughter.
Arrest And Allegations
Police arrested 41-year-old Daniel Philip Le Lievre at his Oviedo, Florida, home on March 30 on charges related to sexual offenses. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by PEOPLE, Le Lievre was the victim’s teacher during the time the alleged grooming took place.
Timeline
Investigators say Le Lievre began dating the girl’s mother in October 2023 and the relationship continued through early January 2024. During that period, the mother and her children reportedly spent significant time at Le Lievre’s residence, including multiple overnight stays.
What Authorities Allege
Police allege that while involved with the family, Le Lievre groomed the then-13-year-old and sexually assaulted her on at least one occasion, including an incident in which he allegedly followed her to a bathroom in the middle of the night and assaulted her.
The affidavit describes secretive communication and other behavior investigators say facilitated the alleged abuse: teaching the child Morse code, creating "throwaway" email accounts to communicate, and establishing a bank account and a separate phone account for the girl. Officers also allege he kept a drawer in his classroom desk reserved for the child that contained blankets and perfume.
Alleged statement: When the relationship ended, Le Lievre reportedly told the woman he "only dated [her] so that he could 'get closer to her,'" a comment authorities interpret as referring to the child.
Charges And Case Status
Online court records show Le Lievre has been charged with two counts of sexual assault by a custodian of a victim over the age of 12 and under the age of 18. Records do not list an entered plea; PEOPLE has reached out to the public defender representing him. As with all suspects, the allegations are unproven until adjudicated in court.
Support And Reporting Resources
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual abuse, support is available. Text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to connect with a certified crisis counselor. If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or visit www.childhelp.org. All hotline calls are toll-free, confidential and available 24/7 in multiple languages.
Note: The information in this article is based on the arrest affidavit and court records; allegations have not been proven in court.
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