Pasco School District Employee Arrested For Sexual Assault

The technology specialist at James Irvin Education Center was arrested July 15 on charges of sexual battery.

According to a Pasco County complaint affidavit, the suspect invited the victim to his Dade City home to do “yard work.” He is accused of removing the victim’s shorts and performing oral sex on him inside a hot tub.

Following his arrest, the suspect admitted to knowing the victim for 14 years and told officers from the Dade City Police Department that the man came on to him, the affidavit said.

Arrested was Philip M. Young of 37546 Church Ave. in Dade City. Young is the technology specialist at James Irvin, which is an alternative school in Dade City that serves students from the Land O’ Lakes area. Young was charged with sexual battery on a mentally ill person. He was released from the Land O’ Lakes Jail on $100,000 bond.

Summer Romagnoli, the school district’s spokeswoman, said information is being gathered about the case, but no decision has been made as of yet in regard to Young’s employment. Once information is gathered, a recommendation will be made to the school board, she added.

“The safety of our students is our primary concern, and we will fully cooperate with law enforcement as they investigate this situation,” Romagnoli said.