Former Douglas Anderson teacher sentenced to 10 years in prison

Former teacher Jeffrey Clayton, convicted of lewd behavior with a Douglas Anderson School of the Arts student, walked to the Duval County courthouse Friday with a small backpack.

He left handcuffed.

Circuit Judge Tatiana Salvador imposed a series of sentences that Clayton will serve concurrently: 10 years for each of two second-degree felony charges and five years for each of two third-degree felonies. He will serve a three-year sentence after his release.

“You have lost a lot,” the judge said as she prepared to sentence Clayton. “You lost him because of the actions you took.”

Clayton, 67, pleaded guilty in April to two counts of trespassing on students by authority figures, lewd or lascivious touching of minors and illegal use of a two-way communications device .

He was arrested in early 2023 after sending approximately 1,700 text messages to a 16-year-old girl and also touching and kissing her inappropriately.

Prosecutors allege that on March 17, 2023, Clayton gave a one-on-one singing lesson with student Douglas Anderson. He was accused of expressing romantic feelings toward her, rubbing her thighs and attempting to kiss her.

Since his arrest, several people have filed similar complaints. Three of them submitted victim impact statements Friday as part of a deal Clayton's attorney worked out in exchange for the state not filing additional charges against him.

Clayton faced a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

Remorseful Clayton, speaking first at the hearing, told Salvador he lived in his car, stored his belongings in a 5 x 8 storage unit and made money by donating its plasma.

After Clayton spoke, prosecutor Anna Hixon played a recording of a “controlled call” — a call police asked the victim to make to Clayton during their investigation.

Members of the public in the packed courtroom appeared uncomfortable as they listened to the explicit appeal. Some sobbed softly; others put their heads in their hands. Clayton stared straight ahead, his shoulders slumped.

Salvador later called Clayton's discussion of that call “scary.”