FROSTPROOF, Fla. – A Polk County mental health counselor with a criminal past is accused of inappropriately touching and abusing two children who were in her care then blamed the incident on "having a bad day," according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Jessica Lazzara, 42, was providing counseling services through Big Bear Behavioral Health, Inc. but was fired after her arrest in connection with the incident, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said.

Lazzara met with two sexual trauma patients, ages 11 and 13, at their home at 3:15 p.m. on April 24 for a therapy session. The session started and the patient stayed in bed at her own request. The therapist proceeded to threaten the girl with a bow and arrow and then started striking her, deputies said.

The suspect went outside to the back of the property with the two girls and their 27-year-old mother, where Lazzara inappropriately touched two of the females with a lighter and spray paint, according to the affidavit. The victims were dressed during the incident, Judd said.

The three females went to the front yard and Lazzara lifted up her shirt to expose herself to them, deputies said. The victims turned away from Lazzara and ran inside, locked the door and called 911.

“As you can imagine, our victims of former trauma were once again traumatized,” Judd said.

The mother told deputies that Lazarra had been providing her daughters with weekly therapy sessions since November 2016 and she had no problems with the quality of care up until the incident in April, Judd said.

When confronted, Lazzara said that she would kill everyone and herself, the arrest affidavit said. Lazzarra went on to bang on doors and windows until police detained her, according to deputies.

She told authorities she was having a bad day and couldn't remember everything that happened.

"I don't remember everything that happened that day," Lazzara told deputies, according to the report. "I am sorry for what I did. I don't need to be a therapist anymore, I don't need to work around children."

In a post-Miranda interview with police, Lazzara said she wanted one of the deputies to shoot her. Responding deputies took Lazarra to a hospital where she was held under the Baker Act.

Lazzara was arrested Thursday on charges of lewd molestation, lewd conduct, child abuse, exposure of sexual organs, and battery.

Judd said during a news conference Tuesday that Lazzara has a master's degree and has been working as a mental health professional for the past 10 years.

He said Big Bear never should have hired Lazzara because in 2012 she was accused of giving alcohol to someone under 21, in 2010 she was convicted on a DUI charge, she lost her children during divorce proceedings due to ongoing mental health issues and she was Baker Acted in 2005 and 2016.

“Jessica has some significant issues of her own, but Big Bear has hired her to do trauma therapy to two young girls who had been victimized, sexually battered, then she lewdly molested the children," Judd said. "I don’t even know what to say, that may be among the craziest thing I’ve ever heard in my life.”

Judd said Big Bear told deputies that Lazarra is an intern who can diagnose and treat patients as long as she spends two hours a month with her supervisor. He believes Big Bear should have exercised due diligence and conducted a full background check on Lazarra before allowing her to treat patients in their home.

“How many more did Big Bear hire like this? Or is this the only one and great therapists are going to be embarrassed because of this person’s conduct?” Judd asked.

Big Bear, which is based in Maitland, issued a statement in connection with the incident, but did not address whether or not a background check was conducted.

"Big Bear was notified of the incident and took immediate action to address the concerns reported to us. Big Bear places great value on the confidentiality & safety of our clients and staff, and are dedicated to serving our community with caring, competent strength. We pride ourselves in working with clinicians of the highest caliber, and exceed all local, state and federal guidelines in qualifying our employees prior to hire.

"We are cooperating with the authorities during their investigation and will continue to address and questions from them immediately."

The Florida Department of Health released this statement in response to Lazarra's arrest:

Any time that we discover that a licensed practitioner has been arrested we begin a preliminary investigation and monitor the situation for a conviction. We also look in to the actions that led to the arrest to see if there are any violations where the department has regulatory authority.

An arrest or waiting for trial is not evidence of wrongdoing and our statutes recognize this by providing that only a conviction or plea is actionable. In Florida, a professional license is considered a property right so before licensees can be deprived of their license, they have a constitutional right to due process.

