The investigation, initiated after allegations surfaced during a criminal probe, found that Tobia had employed legislative aides for various class-related tasks over the past decade, including grading, creating course materials, and communicating with students.

Despite Tobia's claims that staff involvement was minimal, evidence suggested extensive contributions from non-college employees to his teaching materials.

Tobia, who had taught at Valencia since 2001, was placed on paid administrative leave in August 2024, and he submitted his resignation on October 15, ending his over 20-year tenure at the college.

[1] When incumbent State Representative Mitch Needelman was unable to seek re-election in 2008 due to term limits, Tobia ran to succeed him in the 31st District, which stretched from Malabar to South Patrick Shores.

The Orlando Sentinel roundly criticized both candidates, declaring that "voters in this Brevard County district deserve better than Republican Rep. John Tobia", in part because he made "inappropriate comments about women in his lectures."