A married Florida middle school teacher has been arrested for allegedly having an inappropriate relationship with a 14-year-old student where she sent him nude photos and bought him drugs.
Authorities arrested Stephanie Peterson, 26, Wednesday morning in New Smyrna after the male student allegedly told his parents that the teacher picked him up from their home at 11 p.m. and spent many hours with him in a private place before bringing him home at 1 or 2 a.m. the following day, the Daily Mail reported.
He also claimed that Peterson sent him nude photos of herself and purchased marijuana along with a “bowl to smoke it.”
The student also told his parents that his grades suffered because of the illicit relationship.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday that Peterson was booked into Volusia County Branch Jail on one count of lewd or lascivious battery and one count of transmitting harmful materials to a minor. She is being held on $25,000 bond.
Investigators say the relationship between Peterson and the student began in November. The boy used to be Peterson’s student when he was a seventh grader, WKMG reported.
Peterson, whose married name is Ferri, resigned from her job as a middle school science teacher Monday, the day before her arrest.
Peterson allegedly told the boy he could not tell anyone about their relationship, especially when they spent time together alone.
Peterson had been married to her husband Brandon, a firefighter, since 2015. The couple have no children.