FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida — A reading teacher at Dillard High School was arrested after investigators discovered he attempted to pursue an inappropriate relationship with a student, law enforcement officials announced.
Basil Billings, 63, was taken into custody on Thursday by the Fort Lauderdale Police Department. He faces charges of offenses against a student by an authority figure and lewd or lascivious touching of certain minors involving a victim between the ages of 16 and 17, according to Broward County jail records.
The arrest followed a police investigation into a sequence of events occurring at the high school campus. Authorities stated that Billings tried to establish an improper relationship with the student through a combination of inappropriate notes, verbal comments, and physical touching.
Personnel from the Broward County Schools Police assisted local officers in apprehending Billings at a Broward County Public Schools administration office before booking him into the county jail. On Friday, Billings made an initial court appearance before a judge who set his bond at $35,000 and ordered him to have absolutely no contact with minors.
School district records indicate that Billings has been employed as a teacher at Dillard High School since 2004, having also previously worked for the district as a substitute teacher.
Broward County Public Schools officials released a statement revealing that administrators had already placed Billings on an administrative reassignment away from students and the school building on May 1 as the investigation proceeded.
District officials emphasized that the school system prioritizes student safety and expressed deep concern regarding the allegations against Billings. The district noted that it intends to pursue all necessary administrative measures moving forward, including potential termination of employment, depending on the final legal resolution of the case.
Comments