BRADENTON, Fla. — After a two-week-long investigation, deputies charged a teacher from a Manatee County elementary school with molestation and battery.
The Manatee County Sheriff's Office said they were contacted on April 4 after multiple children reported that Richard Silberman, 72, had touched them in ways that made them feel uncomfortable. Silberman was a teacher at Team Success, a public charter school located on 13th Avenue East in Bradenton.
During an interview with a student, deputies learned that Silberman placed his hand on a 10-year-old's clothing in the genital area while they were working together. The student claimed Silberman had made similar advances before.
Team Success fired Silberman after learning about the allegations and told him not to return to work.
While investigating, detectives gathered statements from other students who had similar encounters where they felt Silberman had been inappropriate. He denied all allegations.
Silberman was charged with three counts of lewd and lascivious molestation and two counts of battery. He was arrested and taken to the Manatee County Jail.
“You know, it might just be time we take a look if HOAs are really even necessary.
Maybe we should just do away with homeowner associations as a whole.”
South Florida lawmaker Rep. Juan Carlos Porras (R-Miami) says it may be time to do away with homeowners associations altogether, as more Floridians speak out about rising fees, costly lawsuits, and even arrests tied to HOA disputes. He said this week that he is considering filing legislation in the next session that would abolish HOAs statewide.
