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Local
Educator Charged With Attempted Sexual Battery Of 11-Year-Old
The Lakeland Police Depart- ment has arrested a 45-year- old woman and charged her with attempted sexual battery. Police alleged her intended victim was an eleven-year-old. According to police, on June 28th, the mother of an 11-year- old called the police after she discovered disturbing text messages between her child and his teacher from this past school year.
Investigators located nearly 100 text messages sent back and forth between the child and his former teacher, identi- fied as Ms. Alecia Dotson. Ms. Dotson is employed by the Polk County School Board as a Paraprofessional at High- lands Grove Elementary. The victim attended the school as a 5th grade student last school term.
On June 28, after Ms. Dot- son sent a text message to the victim asking to pick him up and take him to the library, the mother decided to check her son’s cell phone. That is when she discovered several inap- propriate text messages sent to her son, police said.
While the Lakeland Police was at the mother’s house con- ducting an investigation, Ms. Dotson again sent a text mes- sage saying, “Love bug what are you doing” and “I’ll be sure to tell her we won’t have sex on the first visit...LOL.”
The Special Victims Unit began an investigation on June 29th, and had control of the victim’s cell phone.
On June 30th, Ms. Dotson sent another text message ask- ing the victim “Are you awake love bug?” Ms. Dotson, be- lieving she was talking to the
ALECIA DOTSON
... Charged with Attempted Sexual Battery
victim when in fact it was de- tectives, arranged a meeting with him at the Cinemark Movie Theater for the purpose of engaging in unlawful sexual conduct.
Prior to arriving at the the- ater, Ms. Dotson stopped and picked up a bottle of strawberry warming lubricant from Spencer’s at the Lake- land Mall.
She was taken into custody after she showed up as planned at the Lakeland Mall. Ms. Dotson reportedly told police that over the last three weeks the relationship be- tween her and the victim evolved from a “Mentorship” to a “Crush” and then a “Ro- mantic relationship.”
Based on the investigation, Ms. Dotson was charged with 2 counts of attempted sexual battery on a victim under the age of 12; use com- puter device to solicit a child; traveling to meet a minor; and unlawful use of communica- tions.
ACT-SO Students Need Assistance To Attend Conference
Shown on the front row from left to right are: Maurice Jackson, ACT-SO Chairman, Nynchoyha Pitt, Joshua Ingram, Charity Frank, Karlea Boswell-Edwards, Kalimah Ujaama, Naomi Mendez, Shennell Spencer, Victoria French, Anna Castillo and Pierre Alsint.
Also attending the National Convention representing the Hillsborough County Branch NAACP are: President, Dr. Bennie Small, Natasha Goodley, Pat Spencer, Ella K. Coffee, Darele Campbell, Isaline Boyd and Norene Miller.
BY IRIS B. HOLTON Sentinel City Editor
Throughout the year, eleven local students have been dis- tinguishing themselves in com- petitions for titles in their chosen fields of study. For sev- eral weeks, the group has been making preparations to attend the 37th Annual National ACT- SO Competition and Awards Ceremony. The event will take place in Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania July 9th through July 13th.
The ACT-SO Competition and Awards Ceremony is the prelude to the 106th National NAACP Convention that will take place in that city, July 13th through July 17th.
ACT-SO Program is a youth educational component of the Hillsborough County Branch NAACP. ACT-SO is an acronym for Afro-Academic,
Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics.
Maurice Jackson, ACT-SO Chairman said, “The young people representing our branch, this year, we believe, are some of the most gifted in the nation and we further be- lieve that they all will do very well in Philadelphia because we have groomed them to do so.”
Hillsborough County Branch NAACP President, Dr. Ben- nie Small said, “As President of Hillsborough County NAACP, I am very proud of our local ACT-SO Program. We are able to showcase talent from our area along with over 800 young people from across the country in Philadelphia, PA”.
“Jackson, Ms. Spencer and the ACT-SO Committee, along with the judges, mentors and parents are doing much to
lend support to high school students, grades 9 through 12 to get exposure on a national level. The students qualify to compete for financial prizes, computers and to showcase their talents along with others. Any financial support you can lend to this effort will be greatly appreciated.”
However, while the group has worked to ensure that all of the members will attend the convention, the group has fallen short in raising the funds needed to make the trip. They are hoping that the community will help make this trip possi- ble.
The youngsters are the Gold Medalist of the Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO) Program. The program is the major youth initiative of the Hillsborough County Branch NAACP.
The 11 gold medalists are:
Naomi Mendez, Nyn- choyha Pitt, Joshua In- gram, Victoria French, Kalimah Ujaama, Anna Castillo, Charity Frank, Naylea Ruiz, Pierre Al- sant, Shenell Spencer, and Karlea Boswell-Edwards. Eight of the students recently graduated with honors from high school. Two others are continuing their education at institutions of higher learning.
Recently, this elite group of young scholars was honored by the Hillsborough County School Board at their 'Student Recognition Day Program' and they were invited by the City Council of the City of Tampa, who recognized them for their outstanding achievements.
All ACT-SO activities are solely funded by charitable do- nations and the program is still in need of financial support from community donors to make this trip possible for the students.
Contributions may be dropped off at the local Hills- borough County Branch Office located in Tampa at 308 Mar- tin Luther King, Jr. Blvd Suite “C” or mailed to: Hillsborough County ACT-SO, Post Office Bo 4266, Tampa, Florida 33677. For additional infor- mation please contact Mr. Jackson or Ms. Spencer at 813.234.8683 or 813.830.1450.
FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 9-A