LAKELAND, Fla. — Deputies arrested a Polk County high school substitute teacher after he sent sexually explicit messages to two teenage students on Snapchat, according to the sheriff's office.
Jerron Dunn, 32, faces charges of a sex offense on a student by an authority figure and transmission of material harmful to a minor, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said Thursday.
The agency says two females, a 17 and 18-year-old, told their guidance counselor at New Beginnings High School in Lakeland that they received explicit videos of him on the social media app. The 17-year-old reportedly borrowed a phone charger from Dunn and at some point, he used her phone to add himself to her Snapchat account.
Dunn then sent several messages, asking her to come to his house, and a video, the sheriff's office said.
The 18-year-old told investigators that she accepted a friend request from Dunn on Snapchat, after which he began telling her she was pretty and wanted to be in a relationship.
"The victim told Dunn that he was too old for her and that it would be 'weird' because he is her teacher," said the sheriff's office, adding that he then continued to send her messages, videos and told her he wanted to be a "friend with benefits."
Dunn admitted to the charges against him, deputies said.
"This suspect used his position of authority over students to groom them and attempt to have sex with them; our hope is that there are no other victims. We encourage anyone who has been victimized by Jerron Dunn to please contact law enforcement," Sheriff Grady Judd said in a statement.
Dunn's bond was set at $30,000 during his first court appearance Thursday.
Anyone who may have more information about the case or potentially others is asked to call the Polk County Sheriff's Office at 863-298-6200.