A high school teacher who is accused of starting an eight-month illicit relationship with one of her students had sex with the boy in her classroom just hours before she was arrested, authorities in Florida have said.
Brooke Anderson, 27, faces three counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
Anderson, a science teacher at Riverview High School, southeast of Tampa, is accused of starting the relationship in September last year, the minor told investigators.
The relationship began with sexually explicit text messages and “escalated” in the weeks leading up to her arrest, according to the sheriff’s office.
Multiple instances of sexual activity were reported between Anderson and the student.
The most recent was inside Anderson’s classroom where the pair allegedly had sex before the start of the school day on May 16, according to investigators.
That same day, Anderson was booked into jail by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office before being released on May 17 after a judge set her bail at $45,000 — $15,000 for each count — People.com reported.
“This teacher betrayed the trust of a student, a school, and an entire community. What should have been a safe, supportive environment for learning was exploited for abuse. Her actions are criminal, calculated, and deeply disturbing,” Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said in the press release.
Unlawful sexual activity with a minor is a second-degree felony in Florida, and if found guilty, Anderson faces up to 15 years in prison.
She has yet to enter a plea, and it is unclear if she has an attorney.
Hillsborough County Public Schools, which employed Anderson, did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
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