Who is Leesburg High School band director Gabriel Fielder, what happened and what's next?

A former Leesburg High School student told investigators last month that he was involved in a "secret society" led by longtime band director Gabriel Fielder and that he was instructed not to speak to anyone about text messages of a sexual nature that were sent to him by guidance counselor Lenny Finelli.

Both Fielder and Finelli have since resigned, but neither has been charged with a crime.

Here's what we know so far.

Who is Gabriel Fielder?

Fielder was LHS' longtime band director until the Lake County School Board unanimously accepted his resignation Monday night. He started with the school in 2002 and led a very successful program, among the best in Central Florida.

He also ran for office — Leesburg City Council Seat 3 — in 2020. He did not win.

Fielder has been accused of running a cult called the Elder Council and covering up sexual messages between Finelli, who also helped run the cult, and a former student, whose name is redacted in the police report.

What happened to Lenny Finelli?

In the report dated April 6, the former student told Leesburg Police Department investigators that Finelli had sent him texts asking about his penis size and to meet up.

That was in September 2020. Finelli then told Fielder, who deleted the text messages from their phones and iCloud.

He then told the student, Finelli and the rest of the Elder Council to never speak of the incident again.

After the student graduated and turned 18, he and Finelli began a sexual relationship, the report said. No charges have been filed against Finelli, the report noted, because the student was of legal age during the relationship.

However, the report made no mention of grooming. Abusers sometimes groom their victims by establishing a relationship with them to lower their inhibitions, all with the goal of abusing them.

Finelli resigned in lieu of termination, which was approved by the school board April 25.

What is The Elder Council? Is it really a cult?

The Elder Council was set up as a nonprofit and incorporated in 2019. It was dissolved last summer.

A former member told the Commercial it's fair to refer to the Elder Council as a cult.

State records show that Fielder was the president, Finelli was the vice president and former students filled the roles of secretary and "elders."

The articles of incorporation say its primary purpose was "not for profit missions and teaching activities for the greater evangelical Christian church globally."

Fielder ran a YouTube channel called "Isaiah 58 Ten," which has since been deleted. The Daily Commercial reviewed the channel and its videos before it was gone.

The about section read:

"We were originally called The Elder Council. At the beginning of this group the Lord personally taught us how to hear His voice, rightly divide the Word, and operate in His gifts scripturally. We came to know him as Savior and Teacher. The Elder Council has concluded a group, but we will leave these videos up as a testimony to what the Father has taught us. The work continues as He opens a new book and teaches each of us to minister to Him as our King. New videos will reflect that focus. May His Kingdom come, and His will be done in each of us and on earth as in Heaven."

Did LHS administrators know about the group?

A call to LHS Principal Mike Randolph was not returned last week when LPD released the incident report. However, a schools spokeswoman said the group did not meet on campus.

Why was Gabriel Fielder allowed to resign in lieu of termination?

The school board on Monday unanimously approved his resignation without discussion. It was in a standard human resources item that detailed other resignations, leaves, retirements and requests to teach out of field.

The item, which was on the consent agenda, could have been pulled for board discussion, but it wasn't.

After the meeting, Superintendent Diane Kornegay declined to comment on the matter.

Has anyone else come forward?

Yes. A number of former students as well as a former Elder Council member have agreed to tell their stories to the Daily Commercial. We are currently sifting through them.

Former students or those involved in the Elder Council who wish to speak to the Commercial can email ksartoris@dailycommercial.com or cgaspich@dailycommercial.

What happens now?

Lake County schools have been investigating Fielder, but its findings have not yet been made public.

This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: Leesburg High School band director Gabriel Fielder and the Elder Council