Punta Gorda Middle School teacher held without bond in yearslong child sexual abuse case

Brian Pavluchuk, a 40-year-old Punta Gorda Middle School teacher, was arrested Friday by the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Marshals Task Force, and Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office on charges of sexually abusing a minor.

A new report states that Pavluchuk knew the victim and is accused of sexually abusing them multiple times over the course of three years, between 2014 and 2017, when he worked as a Young Marines instructor.

Jesse Christopher, a Punta Gorda resident, shared his reaction to the news.

"I have children, I have grandchildren. And just to me, the thought of this, to even think of something like that just makes my blood boil. Especially in this community, you know, there's no, there's no place for it. There's no place for that kind of behavior," Christopher said.

The arrest report indicates that the abuse has been ongoing for nearly a decade. The earliest report dates back to 2017, when Pavluchuk was accused of inappropriately touching boys during his time as a Young Marines instructor.

Jacob Howard, another Punta Gorda resident, emphasized the importance of protecting children.

"Just finding out this news is just horrible. You know, these are our youth. These are our children. You know, we're supposed to protect them and guide them and teach them. Right? And, you know, to find something out like this, you know, in our county. It's appalling because you know, how you know, we don't know how many other victims there could be in this case," Howard said.

Charlotte County Public Schools responded to the arrest, noting that the alleged abuse did not occur in a school setting.

“We are deeply troubled by the arrest made today involving a Charlotte County Public Schools employee. We want to be clear that every CCPS employee is held to the highest standards of professionalism and integrity, both on and off campus,” the district said in a statement.

Pavluchuk faces charges of sexual battery with a victim under 12 and lewd molestation on a victim under 12. He remains in jail without bond.

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office stated that the investigation remains active.