Judge Refuses To Lower Bond For Broward Teacher Jailed On Sex Count

Originally published in the Sun-Sentinel, February 16, 2001

An attempt to lower Harry Dellas' bond was refused on Friday morning and the former high school Spanish teacher remains behind bars on sex-related charges.

The decision was made by Broward Circuit Judge Joyce Julian during a early morning hearing argued by defense attorney Jonathon Friedman.

Dellas, 43, of Margate, is being held in lieu of $150,000 bond at the Broward County Jail on a charge of lewd and lascivious act with a juvenile 16 or under. He has been in jail since Jan. 29.

Dellas, who taught in Broward County since 1996, was arrested Jan. 25 on a charge of soliciting one of his Hollywood Hills High School students for sex. He resigned shortly after that arrest.

His bond was raised from $10,000 to $150,000 after authorities discovered he had posted bond, then bought a one-way ticket to Greece.

During his 12 years of teaching in South Florida schools, Dellas has been accused of inappropriate conduct with students at least five times.

In 1991, according to records, Dellas has been accused of forcing a female student to perform oral sex on him. In 1995, he was reprimanded for taking a female student off campus. Nearly a year later he was arrested for allegedly soliciting a prostitute, and on Jan. 25 of this year he was accused of soliciting sex from one of his 15-year-old students.