A Duval County elementary school teacher is charged with sexual battery on a child younger than 12.

Three years ago, the same teacher was investigated by police and the Department of Children and Families for allegations that he had an inappropriate relationship with a young boy.

Christopher Bacca, 26, was arrested Tuesday on multiple felony charges of sexual battery and lewd and lascivious conduct after investigators said he repeatedly victimized a boy younger than 12.

In 2009, DCF alerted the Duval County School District regarding the allegations, according to Duval schools spokeswoman Jill Johnson.

According to our news partner Channel 4, the investigative reports released Wednesday by the district say that Bacca had a relationship with a boy.  Bacca also knew his family.  The child was reported to have spent the night at Bacca’s home two to three times

The boy told a DCF child protection investigator in October 2009 that he had been sleeping with Bacca but denied any sexual contact, according to the report.

Jill Johnson with the Duval schools says when the investigation began that October, Bacca was removed from his fourth grade teaching position at Long Branch Elementary School.  Per the DCF’s recommendation, he was placed at their Consolidated Services Center, where their mail operations and shipments are.

Johnson said he was put on “Step II Progressive Discipline.”  That included a referral to their “employee assistance program” which he completed.  He was ordered to have no contact with the child.  It also recommended he stay at his job in the mail room.

According to the report, when investigators interviewed Bacca in 2009, he was told of the complaint and "almost immediately became emotionally upset and tearful."

The report reads that he acknowledged having “a special relationship” with the boy and the family.

Bacca admitted the boy and his mother had visited in his home and his mother’s home, according to the report.  He admitted the boy spent the night at his home, but denied any sort of sexual relationship with him.

The boy confirmed he spent multiple nights in bed with Bacca but also denied any sexual contact, according to the report.

DCF concluded in its investigation with a finding that the teacher’s behavior indicated “grooming,” which could have resulted in harm to the child.  They recommended that Bacca be assigned to a less vulnerable student population.

Jill Johnson said no evidence of a sexual relationship was found, so no criminal charges were brought against Bacca.

Johnson said they sent the DCF report to the Professional Practices Commission in Tallahassee, which oversees Florida teacher certifications.

“They then concluded and determined that there was no action warranted by their office for action against his certificate,” Johnson said.

After being put in the mail room in October 2010, Christopher Bacca was placed back into a teaching position at Windy Hills Elementary School in January 2010.

That following school year he went on to be named Windy Hills’ “Teacher of the Year.”

The report also said Long Branch’s principal told DCF investigators Bacca was a talented young teacher who was named Teacher of the Year at that school as well.

As of this past Tuesday, Bacca is currently being held in the Duval County jail without bail.

According to a JSO report, he showered with a boy more than once while the victim spent the night at Bacca’s home, more than once.

The boy told police Bacca touched his private parts and performed oral sex on him more than once, according to the report.

Bacca was also the co-chair of the youth committee at Riverside Presbyterian Church.

Superintendent Ed Pratt-Dannals will be recommending suspension without pay pending termination at the August 7 school board meeting.

"The safety of our students is a top priority and the district took immediate action upon learning of these allegations," the school district said in a statement on Tuesday. "We will provide the outcome of the investigation to the Professional Practices Commission in Tallahassee for any potential action against his teaching certificate."