The IDEA River Bluff charter school in Arlington. | Google
Published on July 28, 2025 at 4:40 pm
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A teacher at the IDEA River Bluff charter school in Arlington has been charged with sexual battery, accused of soliciting a child by computer, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
James Lewis Tellis, 27, also was charged with offenses against students and unlawful use of a two-way device. He remains behind bars after his arrest Friday, jail records show.
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Tellis is listed on his LinkedIn page as dean of culture at the school.
A report on his arrest is not available yet, but IDEA confirmed that Tellis was arrested off campus. He was fired after administrators learned of the charges, a statement said.
Although Tellis was charged with offenses against students, the statement said there is no indication that IDEA students were involved.
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Tellis began working at IDEA in 2024, the statement said. All employees must pass state and federal criminal background checks to gain employment, IDEA said.
This is the second teacher arrested recently at the same school. Kindergarten teacher Terri Baldwin was arrested May 6 on a charge of child abuse without great bodily harm, according to her arrest report. Her case is pending, court records show.
