An elementary school teacher is facing a felony charge that is drawing attention to Florida’s strict laws on recording private conversations without consent.
Dana Leigh Palka, 31, a Brooksville teacher, was arrested earlier this month in Hernando County and has now been charged with eavesdropping-illegal interception of communication, a third-degree felony under Florida law.
According to a Pasco County complaint affidavit, Palka recorded an oral conversation with another individual using her cell phone without that person’s knowledge or permission. Investigators say the alleged incident occurred on December 29, 2025, in Zephyrhills, when Palka and a family member went to the victim’s residence unannounced.
According to the report, the victim later became suspicious after observing Palka positioning her phone in a way that brought the microphone closer during the interaction. Authorities state that Palka later admitted to recording the conversation when questioned by the victim’s relatives in a recorded conversation that Palka agreed to.
Palka will be arraigned on April 16th and is represented by attorney Jeff Cario.
While the case is still pending, it underscores a key legal issue: recording someone without their consent can be a crime.
Florida is known as a “two-party consent” state, meaning that all parties involved in a private conversation must agree to being recorded. This is outlined in Florida Statute 934.03, which makes it illegal to intentionally intercept or record any oral communication without consent from everyone involved.
Legal experts note that the law applies specifically to situations where there is a “reasonable expectation of privacy.” This typically includes conversations inside homes, private offices, or other non-public settings. In contrast, recording in public places-where conversations can easily be overheard-generally does not carry the same legal restrictions.
Violating the statute can result in serious consequences. A third-degree felony in Florida is punishable by up to five years in prison, five years of probation, and a $5,000 fine.
Hernando County School Officials say Palka is still employed with the district at this time.