Manatee County elementary school employee accused of molesting student: MCSO

SARASOTA, Fla. - Manatee County deputies have arrested an elementary school employee who they say molested a third-grade student. 

Angel Rodriguez Mercado, 67, was supposed to be a person students could trust, working as a paraprofessional at Abel Elementary School. He worked as an ESOL professional, teaching English to Spanish-speaking students. 

Angel Rodriguez Mercado mugshot courtesy of the Manatee County Sheriff's Office. 

"His class size ratio was a lot smaller. He probably had about 5 or 6 students in this class," Lt. Mark Morie with MCSO said. "What’s disturbing is we believe and actually from his own omission that the offense happened while other kids were in the room. They didn’t see it happen, but from what he told us it happened while other students were in the room."

Detectives said they began investigating Mercado after a 7-year-old third-grade student told a relative that they were molested.

"In this case, it was something that we had some serious concerns when the victim disclosed," Lt. Morie said. "We took them to an interview, got a really good interview on them, very specific at that time, [and] we knew this was probably something that did happen," said Lt.Morie. 

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According to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, a safety plan was put in place immediately and Mercado was removed from having contact with children at the school while the detectives investigated. 

Mercado worked for nearly 7 years with the Manatee County School District and started in 2016 as a custodian at Daughtrey Elementary School. 

He worked at Palm View K-8 from 2017 to 2019 as a paraprofessional and then as a bilingual ESOL paraprofessional. He moved to Abel Elementary in August 2019. 

"We did determine through the interviews that it happened a couple of times and it was supported by the suspect’s confession that it happened on two occasions," said Lt. Morie. "It’s disgust and shock. You instantly feel anger and concern for the child, they’re at an early age."

Mercado faces a charge of Lewd and Lascivious Molestation, a first-degree felony, which could be punishable by life in prison.

He appeared Thursday afternoon by video in a Manatee County courtroom. 

Detectives encourage anyone who has information about this case or knows someone who could be a victim to contact the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office at (941) 747-3011.

In a statement released Thursday, Manatee County Superintendent Dr. Jason Wysong said:

"The arrest and charge announced today by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office involving an employee in our schools is gut wrenching to me personally and professionally. 

My heart goes out to the victim, the victim’s family and the entire Abel Elementary School community during this painful and agonizing time. Our school support team of psychologists, social workers and safety and security have been on site at Abel Elementary and will stand ready to serve whatever needs may come.

I thank the Sheriff’s Office for their hard work, and we will continue to fully cooperate with all efforts related to this case."