Joshua Dice, a former educator at Calvary Christian Academy located in Middleburg, was taken into custody on Wednesday afternoon near a gym on Blanding Boulevard.
CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — A 34-year-old man from Orange Park is currently facing several felony charges after being accused of traveling with the intention of engaging in sexual activities with a minor, as detailed in an arrest report from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
Joshua Dice, previously a teacher at Calvary Christian Academy in Middleburg, was apprehended on Wednesday afternoon outside a gym on Blanding Boulevard.
He faces charges of using a computer to solicit a child for unlawful sexual contact, unlawful use of a two-way communication device and traveling to meet a minor for sex, his arrest report states.
The events leading up to Dice’s arrest and what he told investigators during an interview are redacted from his arrest report.
First Coast News reached out to Calvary Christian Academy for comment on Dice’s arrest.
Pastor Ken Pledger said in a statement that the school was informed about Dice’s arrest, and he was immediately terminated from his position and his role at Calvary Baptist Church.
“We are fully cooperating with law enforcement regarding this matter,” the statement added.
Pledger said Dice’s arrest is unrelated to the activities of Calvary Baptist Church or Calvary Christian Academy.
“He no longer has any affiliation with these ministries,” the statement said. “Our highest priority is the safety and well-being of our members and students. Calvary Baptist Church and Calvary Christian Academy maintain a strict policy of zero tolerance for abuse.”
In 2022, a 26-year-old teacher at Calvary Christian Academy was arrested on sexual battery charges after police said she had a sexual relationship with one of her students.
