State Attorney backs police in 'Sofia' case, calls social media attacks 'disturbing'

Eric Rogers, Florida Today
·4 min read

State Attorney Phil Archer on Monday backed the results of a police investigation that cleared two Brevard County teachers of charges of child abuse in the case of Sofia Bezerra, a 7-year-old special needs student who came home from a school last October with a mask tied to her face.

A review of the Indian Harbour Beach Police Department investigation was completed by Archer's office with "no finding of criminal wrongdoing" against the two Brevard Public School employees, according to a news release posted Monday to the state attorney's website and social media accounts.

In a statement following the announcement, Brevard Public Schools said through a spokesman that it was "pleased, but not surprised" by the findings.

"The thorough police and State Attorney investigation shows there was no abuse," the statement said. "The facts coming out in the police report is a good reminder of the danger of jumping to conclusions."

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Police determined in a case report dated Nov. 15, 2020, that there was "no evidence presented which supports that (Sofia) received a physical or emotional injury" and "insufficient evidence" to support charges against her teacher and instructional assistant.

Some, including attorneys for Sofia's stepfather, Jeffrey Steel, had criticized the results of the investigation, maintaining the girl's teachers committed child abuse when they used a nylon cord strung through the earloops of her mask to tie the mask in place behind her head. Sofia's teachers told police they used a method recommended by the Down Syndrome Resource Foundation to affix the mask, which Sofia had difficulty wearing due to physical symptoms of her Down syndrome diagnosis.

Steel maintains the school had been masking his stepdaughter for weeks without her family's knowledge or consent. He and Sofia's mother have filed a $100 million federal lawsuit against the school district, Sofia's teachers and three members of the Brevard County School Board.

Governor Ron DeSantis aspeaking at the podium, as Brevard State Attorney Phil Archer, and Jeffrey Steel look on. An October 20th, 2021 press conference with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, several state and local officials, and parents of students. The hour long conference, which centered on opposition to mask and vaccine mandates, was held at the American Police Hall of Fame & Museum in Titusville.

Archer called the case — which drew national media attention and outrage from critics of school mask mandates — a "text book example of what rushing to judgment prior to the conclusion of an investigation, can produce in today's hypersensitive politically charged climate."

The initial allegations in the case, which inflamed an already raging debate over the ethics and legality of a school mask mandate then in effect by Brevard Public Schools, led to venomous rhetoric against Sofia's teachers and school staff as well as the Brevard County School Board, which passed the mandate last August. (The school district has since moved to a masks-optional policy.)

"I want to commend (Indian Harbour Beach Police Chief David Butler) and his investigative staff for a very thorough and professional investigation," Archer wrote in a statement. "After a careful review of the investigative reports, interviews, and evidence provided to our office, we agree with the conclusion reached by the Indian Harbor (sic) Beach Police that no criminal acts were committed."

Archer condemned the attacks against Sofia's teachers as "disturbing" and "without merit."

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"While concern for the well-being of any child subject to this type of allegation is understandable, the immediate character attacks circulated electronically targeting teachers, administrators, and support staff were not only disturbing, but have been shown to be completely without merit," he wrote. "As leaders and as a community, we must do better."

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Some of the harshest comments came from social media followers of State Rep. Randy Fine, an early and vocal supporter of the Steel family's case against the Brevard School Board who on several occasions has promised a "special place in hell" for those responsible for the incident. He stood by the statement Monday.

"Phil Archer is certainly free to stand with those who broke the law, force-masking children," Fine said.

"This special needs girl was force-masked, illegally, without the knowledge or consent of her parents and doctor, and without any science to support it," he said. "Those who directed it — and concealed it from the parents — deserve a special place in hell. I hope that Sofia and her family receive justice through their lawsuit."

Eric Rogers is a watchdog reporter for FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Rogers at 321-242-3717 or esrogers@floridatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter @EricRogersFT.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: State Attorney supports 'Sofia' report clearing teachers of abuse