PCSO Special Victims Unit (SVU) and Computer Crimes Unit (CCU) detectives examined the text messages exchanged between the two thoroughly. One such message from Mitchell to the victim, sent on Valentine\u2019s Day of this year, read, \u201cI\u2019m here to grow and groom you into what [I] know you\u2019re capable of being!\u201d Other messages include:
\u2022 February 14, 2024 \u2013 Mitchell to victim:\u201cIf you cared youd listen and youd let me see you\u201d
\u2022 February 15, 2024 \u2013 Mitchell to victim:\u201cI got a lot to lose\u201d and \u201cJust know I love you and I want our relationship to remain solid regardless of whatever\u201d
\u2022 February 17, 2024 \u2013 Mitchell to victim:\u201cI love you [redacted]\u201d
\u2022 February 20, 2024 \u2013 Mitchell to victim:\u201cPlease don\u2019t play with me bruh you have my life damn near in your hands\u2026im taking a huge risk\u201d and \u201cI FaceTime you because I wanna see you I reach out because I wanna talk to you. Ive always gave you game and built you up because I care about you\u2026I told you I love you\u2026no pressure though\u201d
\u2022 February 24, 2024 \u2013 Mitchell to victim:\u201cyou think im press for p****\u201d and \u201cCome outside\u201d
It was determined that Mitchell used his position of authority over the victim inappropriately. He was arrested on December 18, 2024.
Mitchell, formerly a teacher at Kathleen High School, is now employed as a Community Outreach Facilitator for the Polk County School Board. He has been placed on administrative leave pending further investigation by the school board.
\u201cUsing one\u2019s position of authority and trust over a student is egregious. Students rely on teachers to be educators and mentors, and Mitchell abused this trust by turning the relationship between him and his student sexual. This type of behavior will not be tolerated.\u201d \u2013 Grady Judd, Sheriff<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winterhavendaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/img_1097-1.jpg?resize=696%2C696&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\u201cMr. Mitchell had been placed on leave by PCPS when we were first informed of the allegations, and he has since submitted his resignation. These allegations describe abhorrent behavior that is unacceptable for anyone who works with students. We are cooperating fully with the Polk County Sheriff\u2019s Office, and appreciate their work to protect our youth and community. People who abuse their trust and authority deserve to be punished for their actions.\u201d \u2013 Fred Heid, Superintendent, Polk County Public Schools<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Polk County Sheriff\u2019s Office has arrested 36-year-old Donald Mitchell of Lakeland for sexual offenses against a student by an authority figure (F2). On December 10, 2024, the former student, a 19-year-old female, reported via social media that she had been engaged in a sexual relationship with Mitchell from October of 2023, when she was a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":74591,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[73,16,17],"class_list":{"0":"post-74592","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-pcso","8":"tag-lakeland","9":"tag-pcso","10":"tag-polk-county-sheriffs-office"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winterhavendaily.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/img_1097-2-1.jpg?fit=414%2C512&ssl=1","aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t