Lee County, Florida, School Employee Charged with Sexual Offenses Against Student

Mariano Hernandez, a behavior interventionist at Benson Elementary School, has been charged with multiple felonies, including sexual penetration of a minor and contacting a minor with the intent to commit a sex offense. The charges stem from an incident where police found him with a 16-year-old girl in a car after reports of sexual activity. Meanwhile, Genesis Zayas, a 23-year-old instructional support staffer at Island Coast High School in Cape Coral, has been arrested on similar charges related to sexual conduct with a student. Zayas faces two counts of sexual offense and is currently out on a $50,000 bond, with her next court appearance scheduled for March 10. The Lee County School District confirmed her suspension pending an investigation, and this incident follows a previous case involving another school employee sentenced for related offenses. Both cases highlight ongoing concerns regarding misconduct by school staff involving students.