By Vaishnavi Vaidyanathan |
A Florida substitute teacher, accused of performing oral sex on a 15-year-old and sending her nude pictures to three other students, was arrested, Citrus County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday.
Angela Jean Stanton, 50, was taken into custody on Jan. 23 after a high school principal in the Citrus County School District informed officials of a possible inappropriate relationship between the teacher and student.
Officials said she was “heavily involved in the athletics program” and that she communicated with student-athletes through various social media platforms, Miami Herald reported.
After getting the tip, officials reached the school and spoke to the three students who informed them that she had been sending them her nude selfies on Snapchat. They also told officers that Stanton performed oral sex on one of the students, who was 15 years old.
She was interviewed the following day and most of her statements confirmed the information given by students, My Sun Coast reported. Stanton was arrested on charges of “Felony Lewd and Lascivious Battery and Felony Transmitting Harmful Materials to a Minor” and later released on $12,000 bond.
“Stanton was a trusted community member who was heavily involved in activities working with our county’s youth. She used her position to prey on the vulnerability of our children. No parent should ever have to worry about their child being victimized like this, especially from someone they viewed as a mentor,” Citrus County Sheriff Prendergast said.
The school district was working with the sheriff’s office to find out if there were more such incidents. She was fired on Thursday and next court date was on Feb. 11, 2019.
“After learning of these charges, Cone-Stanton was immediately released from her position as a substitute, and currently in the process of being trespassed from all school properties,” the Citrus County Schools said on its Facebook page.
The sheriff’s office said, “We are currently working together with the Citrus County School Board to determine if there are any additional incidents. We are asking if you have any information or believe your child was a victim of Stanton, please contact Special Victims Unit Sergeant Stephen Conley at (352) 249-2718 or email sconley@sheriffcitrus.org.”
In a similar incident earlier this month, a teacher sent 800 emails of sexual nature to two former students, resulting in him being banned from teaching. Gethin Bridge, from England, admitted to sending the emails during an investigation launched on his professional conduct.
“The panel is satisfied that Mr. Bridge’s conduct in relation to both pupils was for the purposes of sexual gratification, but not necessarily in pursuit of a future sexual relationship with either pupil,” Teaching Regulation Agency, which carried out the investigation, said in a statement.
Source: International Business Times
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