Middle School Teacher Arrested On Molestation Charges

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The St. Petersburg Police Department has announced the arrest of a 41-year-old Largo man on five counts of lewd and lascivious molestation. According to the agency, the Meadowlawn Middle School teacher was arrested early Wednesday morning.

Police are releasing few details in the case against Joseph Zavalnak. They have said three victims have been identified who are all over the age of 12, but under 18. The agency has not said whether the victims attended the 6050 16th St. N. school.

Get the St. Pete Patch newsletter and alerts in your inbox.

“Two of the incidents occurred at the end of 2016, and the investigation led to another incident in 2013,” a May 24 email from the police department said.

Zavalnak was moved to a non-student worksite in January after the investigation was brought to the school district’s attention, Pinellas County Schools spokeswoman Lisa Wolf said. Zavalnak remained in the post with no student contact until his Wednesday morning arrest, she added.

“His contract is being non-renewed by the district,” Wolf said.

Zavalnak was booked into the Pinellas County Jail following his arrest. He remained there in lieu of $100,000 bond Wednesday afternoon.

Keep up with what’s happening by following St. Pete Patch on Facebook.

Booking photo courtesy of the St. Petersburg Police Department