Saint Patrick Interparish Catholic School Sex Criminal Arrested Again for 2022 Child Molestation Case
Editor’s Notes: Some individuals and locations have been redacted on the incident reports and will be labeled as “[Redacted].” Some sensitive and personal information has been cut from the incident report transcriptions.
Former St. Patrick Interparish Catholic School P.E. teacher Christopher Chell, 47, has been arrested again on a new case for child molestation.
Last year, Chell faced 12 counts of child molestation, four counts of engaging in lewd conduct as an authority figure, one count of solicitation or engaging in a romantic relationship as an authority figure, and one count of battery with a prior conviction.
In September 2024, the State Attorney’s Office dropped nearly all of Chell’s charges aside from his counts of battery and solicitation, for which he was granted a withheld adjudication and five years probation.
Chell was not required to register as a sex offender.
On February 10, 2025, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) Deputy Zachary Means reported the following:
“While serving as uniformed patrol, I was dispatched to [redacted] in reference to a possible sexual battery.
Upon arrival I made contact with D.T., who advised that he is the athletic director and a teacher of the victim. The victim [Redacted] first disclosed to [Redacted], who made others aware. D.T. advised that staff became aware during a tournament and spoke with [Redacted] today about what was being said. Before making contact with [Redacted], D.T. advised that when he spoke with [Redacted], he disclosed something occurring on his way home from a game. D.T., once provided [with] a firsthand account, called Law Enforcement.
I then met with [Redacted], who requested that D.T. remain while I spoke with him. I asked if [Redacted] knew why I was there, and he stated that he did. He advised that the incident in question took place sometime in mid-to-late October of 2022. He advised that the suspect, Christopher Charles Chell, was his coach at the time and was providing him a ride home. He stated that a friend usually rode with them, but on this date that friend went home sick before the game was over. He stated that they were on their way back toward his home when Chell reached over and began to touch him.... I asked if he said or did anything, and he said he froze because he did not know what to do. He also advised that he was unsure how long this went on and he stated it felt like at least five minutes, but he was unsure how much time had passed.
As of this report, no contact was made with Chell, and my interview with [Redacted] has been my only involvement.”
On February 17, 2025, ACSO Deputy Michael Adkins reported the following:
“I was assigned this case on 2/12/25 for further investigation. At the time I was working as a detective assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division—Special Victim's Unit of the Alachua County Sheriff's Office.
After reviewing the initial narrative, I began researching the suspect, Christopher Chell. I learned that Chell was arrested by the Gainesville Police Department and charged with several charges involving lewd or lascivious molestation in 2024. The associated Alachua County court cases are: 2024-CF-000850A, 2024-CF-001393A, 2024-CF-001394A, 2024-CF-1395A, 2024- CE-001396A, [and] 2024-CF-001397A. In these reports, it is apparent that Christopher was using his position In the school to commit sex crimes on young children in the school….
I then contacted [Redacted] E.B. She confirmed that they wanted to pursue criminal charges. She also stated that she never knew about the abuse and still did not know the specific details but that some things made sense now. She stated that [Redacted] only went to Saint Patrick's school for one year, and the following year he refused to go. This led to him being enrolled in the Gainesville Christian Community School. I scheduled a forensic interview with the Gainesville Child Advocacy Center (CAC).
I then contacted the Dean, James Schrader, of Gainesville Christian Community School. I asked about speaking with the other witness. He identified the outcry witness as A.C. After speaking with A.C.’s mother, she confirmed that I could interview [her] the following day.
On 2/13/25, I met with Dean Schrader at the Gainesville Christian Community School, 3536 NW 8th Ave. During this interview I also had an ACSO victim advocate present. A private room was provided for the interview, and A.C. was escorted to the room. The advocate and I introduced ourselves to A.C. She did appear to be concerned with speaking with us and confirmed that she was not told by anyone that we would be coming to speak with her. I assured her that she was not in any trouble and that we were looking for her help with [Redacted]’s case.
I asked A.C. who [Redacted] was to her. She stated that he was her boyfriend. I then asked what [Redacted] told her that led to this investigation. A.C. said that it started approximately a year prior. [Redacted] began telling her he was given a ride home by the coach at his school. A.C. said that [Redacted] stopped talking. She said that [Redacted] seemed to be acting ‘weird,’ and she asked him what was wrong. She said that [Redacted] told her that he was just given a ride by his coach and that was it. A.C. said that she felt that [Redacted] wasn't telling her the full story, but she didn't push it any further.
A.C. said that over the last few months, [Redacted] began talking about this incident again and began disclosing more information to her. [Redacted] disclosed to her that he was riding home with his coach after a flag football game; the coach then touched [Redacted]....
A.C. went on to describe that the way this was reported was because another person heard [Redacted] and her talking about it. That person told others, and eventually a teacher overheard the conversation, and it was reported.
My interview with A.C. was then concluded….
On 2/14/25, I attended the forensic interview at the CAC. [Redacted] was interviewed by case coordinator Becca Bernal. The interview began with rapport-building questions. [Redacted] also demonstrated that he knew and understood the difference between telling the truth and a lie. [Redacted] agreed to tell the truth during the interview.
[Redacted] identified the coach involved in the incident as Christopher Chell. He described that Christopher was the coach at the school when he attended Saint Patrick's school.
[Redacted] disclosed that this incident occurred in October, 2022. He said that he was eleven years old at the time, and he specifically remembered the time frame....
[Redacted] stated that they were at a flag football game in Ocala, Florida. [Redacted] said that the person who he was originally going to ride home with left the game early, so he rode home with Christopher. [Redacted] got in the truck with Christopher, and they began driving on the highway….
[Redacted] said that he was on his phone playing a game with his headphones on. He stated that after approximately ten minutes of driving. Christopher reached over, placed his hand on [Redacted]’s thigh, and then moved his hand inside [Redacted]’s pants….
A search of Saint Patrick's athletics 'school calendar showed that they had a flag football tournament scheduled from October 17th to 21st, 2022.
A file titled 'Locations of Potential Away Games' was also located on Saint Patrick's website. I used Google Maps and placed a marker at the Alachua County line on State Road 93. All of the addresses for potential way games were twenty to thirty minutes away from the county line. Based on [Redacted]’s disclosure or the sexual contact occurring approximately ten minutes after they began driving, it appears that this would have occurred within Marion County. Florida.
Based on this investigation, there does appear to be probable cause to charge Christopher Chell with lewd or lascivious molestation on a victim under the age of 12 by an offender over the age of 18 (FSS 800.04.5b). However, it appears that the crime occurred outside of the jurisdictional boundaries of Alachua County.
I notified my supervisor of this for this case to be forwarded to Marion County Sheriff's Office [(MCSO)] for further investigation.”
On February 27, 2025, MCSO Deputy Ryan Paxton received ACSO’s probable cause for Chell.
On March 13, 2025, Paxton and MCSO Detective Nicholas Sutliff responded to Chell’s residence for an interview.
Paxton reports “Upon asking the suspect if he would be willing to speak with us in reference to my investigation, the suspect advised he did not wish to speak with me prior to consulting with his attorney.”
The following day Paxton made contact with Chell’s private attorney, Thomas L. Edwards, and gave him information about the new case.
Edwards said he’d consult with Chell and get back to Paxton. Later that day, Edwards called back Paxton and stated Chell “would only travel to Ocala to provide a statement with a ‘guarantee’ of an arrest not being made.”
“I advised Mr. Edwards I could make this ‘guarantee’ to them,” reported Paxton.
Chell was booked into the Alachua County Jail on March 17 at 11:55 p.m. and has been placed on an agency hold for Marion County.
