JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A former Jacksonville teacher accused of lewd conduct with a student will not be allowed to leave the county or remove his GPS ankle monitor.
A judge denied the request from the former chair of the vocal department at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts this week.
Jeffrey Clayton resigned after two decades of teaching at the school following his arrest in March on four charges related to sexually inappropriate behavior with students. He has pleaded not guilty.
A motion filed in early June said Clayton hasn’t been able to find a job despite significant effort.
Clayton asked to remove his ankle monitor, saying the cost consumed nearly a fourth of his monthly income from Social Security and the state has suspended his pension.
The judge agreed to waive the GPS costs but denied his requests to seek employment near relatives in Georgia and Alabama.
Jack Leon is a former student of Clayton’s who has actively worked to stall Clayton’s job search.
“This is a man who has remorse that he got caught and he’s finally having to take responsibility for his actions and is having to do that in a way that is not convenient for him,” said Leon.
Leon contacted officials at an Alabama University last summer after he learned Clayton was applying for a job there, letting them know he was under investigation.
“Forget the being difficult to work with or some of that,” Leon said. “Let’s just talk about how he’s treated girls and that’s kind of the approach I took with it. Like I put in my email at the very bottom to them, this isn’t about him, this is about the fidelity of your institution and keeping that above board.”
Clayton’s attorney declined requests for comment, but his former students, colleagues and victims are eager to see his case move forward.
A Duval County Schools spokesperson said Friday there is no update on the Clayton investigation at this time.
Clayton is scheduled to appear in court for a pre-trial hearing Aug. 22.