TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. — A high school math teacher was arrested after police said he molested an underage student in Pinellas County.
James Collins, 39, faces multiple charges, including battery and molestation, Tarpon Springs police said in a release. Officers said their investigation began on Thursday when they were tipped off to a possible "inappropriate relationship" between a math teacher at Tarpon Springs High School and a Pinellas County student.
During their investigation into the allegations, officers said they learned Collins had sexually battered a student under the age of 16.
Few details about the investigation have been released, but police said Collins was arrested and charged with the following:
- Computer pornography, prohibited computer usage. Traveling to meet a minor
- Interference with child custody
- Lewd and lascivious battery
- Lewd and lascivious molestation
- Offense against students by an authority figure
- Traveling to meet a minor
According to Tarpon Springs police, Collins has been a teacher at Tarpon Springs High School for about a year. Before that, he reportedly was a teacher in Pasco County. 10 Tampa Bay has reached out to the Pinellas County School District for information about Collins' employment, and to Pasco County for information regarding whether Collins had any issues during his employment there.
Anyone with information about this investigation or who may know if Collins has victimized anyone else is asked to contact Tarpon Springs Police Detective Justin Smith at 727-937-6151.