LAKELAND, Fla. — A Lakeland teacher is facing sex offense charges for having an ongoing relationship with his 18-year-old student, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies say Kathleen High School teacher Brandon Adams, 33, had an inappropriate relationship with the teen "during the 2021-2022 school year and beyond."
The student reportedly told detectives she moved in with Adams in June 2021 when she was 18 years old. The teen admitted to having a consensual sexual relationship with Adams while he was teaching at Kathleen High School during her senior year, the sheriff's office reports.
In a statement, Polk County Public Schools said Adams had worked for the district since August 2018 and passed a background check before he was hired. He also had no prior disciplinary incidents. After being put on leave in November, Adams was officially fired from the school district.
“I’m disgusted by the behavior described in this investigation. It is unacceptable for an educator to abuse their trust and authority by having a relationship with a student," Polk County Superintendent Fred Heid said. "We appreciate the work of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office to help protect students, and ensure that people who commit these violations are punished and brought to justice.”
The Special Victims Unit charged Adams with sex offense on a student by an authority figure, a felony.
“This suspect used his position of authority over one of his students in the most egregious way. We will not tolerate this kind of behavior," Sheriff Grady Judd said.
