A former teacher at a private Jewish school in Boca Raton is facing charges stemming from an alleged sexual relationship he had with a student who is a senior at the school, according to deputies.
Elias Farley, 26, was arrested Friday on second-degree felony counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor and offense against a student by an authority figure, Palm Beach County court records show. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The student, who was a 16- or 17-year-old girl according to the criminal charge, told Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office detectives she began interacting after class with Farley at the end of the previous school year in June 2025, though they “remained within the teacher-student dynamic at that time,” according to a probable cause affidavit. She told detectives she stayed after class with different teachers often, including Farley, to talk about different topics.
During the summer break, Farley and the student communicated through a shared Google Doc that they each accessed through their emails, the affidavit said. The “physical aspect” began when the new school year started in August 2025, it said. She would stay late to work on college essays or projects, which “often led to private conversations” in Farley’s classroom or an adjacent room, the affidavit said.
The teen told detectives that in September, she and Farley had started “grappling” in his office, which “involved wrestling-like behavior, during which Elias restrained her,” the affidavit said. At least three sexual interactions happened in October in Farley’s office and in another classroom, the student told detectives.
The girl also visited Farley at his apartment twice in November, where she stayed overnight on one of the dates, according to the affidavit. She told detectives she and Farley had sexual intercourse multiple times on those dates, and they continued communicating through Google Docs afterward.
Last month, the student told an art teacher whose classroom she was volunteering in about the inappropriate relationship with Farley, according to the affidavit. The girl showed the teacher bite marks on her stomach and arm that she said were from Farley, the affidavit said.
Investigators searched Farley’s apartment last week after obtaining a search warrant and collected potential evidence, including sheets, according to the affidavit.
Farley posted bail and was released from jail, court records show. He was ordered not to contact the student, her parents or family, any staff or students at the school or any minor children. He is also prohibited from possessing weapons or firearms and is on in-house arrest with a GPS monitor.
He entered a not guilty plea Monday. His defense attorney did not respond to an email Tuesday afternoon seeking comment.
Farley is “no longer employed” at the school, a spokesperson for Donna Klein Jewish Academy said in an email to the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
“This is a difficult time for all of us at Donna Klein. We are approaching this serious situation with the utmost care, keeping the well-being of our students, faculty, and families at the forefront,” the statement said. “We are steadfast in our commitment to providing a safe and secure environment for everyone in our school community.”
