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Authorities track suspect to college

A Saint Leo employee is accused of being in a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old that started in 2001 in Pennsylvania.

By JAMAL THALJI
Published February 12, 2005

ST. LEO - The sexual relationship between a Pennsylvania high school guidance counselor and a 15-year-old student started in 2001, authorities said.

This January - four years later - an investigation was launched. Through leads and tips, the York County District Attorney's Office soon found its suspect: an employee at Saint Leo University.

Julio Sanchez, associate director for graduate admissions, was arrested at 3 p.m. Thursday by the Pasco County Sheriff's Office on outstanding Pennsylvania warrants.

Sanchez, 47, of 8801 Hunters Lake Drive in Tampa, was charged with statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated assault, indecent assault and corruption of minors.

He was booked into the Pasco County jail, where he is being held without bond.

York County Detective Jeffrey Martz investigated the allegations and tracked Sanchez to Florida. He filed the warrants Thursday, then contacted the Pasco Sheriff's Office.

Martz told local law enforcement officers who Sanchez was, what he was wanted for and where he worked. A Pasco sheriff's detective went to the university to arrest Sanchez, spokesman Doug Tobin said.

"He was completely cooperative and went along without incident," Tobin said.

Martz said his agency will soon begin extradition proceedings.

Saint Leo director of public relations Karla Willman said Sanchez was hired by the university 11/2 years ago.

"As is a policy for all our employees, he had to undergo a background check," she said, "and it revealed nothing, and he was offered the position."

Willman said the university would offer no further comment on Sanchez, including his job status and whether he was suspected of having improper relationships with students on campus.

The alleged relationship with the 15-year-old girl started when Sanchez was employed as a college counselor at York Country Day School, authorities said. It's an independent college-prep school founded in 1953 in York, Pa., where Sanchez worked as a counselor for grades 9-12.

But authorities would not comment on how long the alleged relationship lasted, why it came to light recently and what sparked their investigation. And why did Sanchez leave Pennsylvania?

"We're not sure why he left," Martz said.

Researcher Carolyn Edds contributed to this report.

[Last modified February 12, 2005, 00:25:13]