TAVARES, Fla. — A Tavares High School teacher was arrested Wednesday after being accused of having inappropriate communication with students, deputies said.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office detectives said they began investigating Brian Wall, 30, after allegations surfaced that he “solicited inappropriate pictures from the students and possibly inappropriate touching.”
A parent contacted the Department of Children and Families with allegations that Wall had been "sending and receiving inappropriate text and picture messages."
A 16-year-old student told detectives that Wall inappropriately touched her and asked if she wanted photos of him, according to an arrest affidavit.
“He did touch her stomach and he did touch her buttocks area," said Fred Jones of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Detectives said the teen asked Wall for extra credit work, but he asked for hugs instead.
"He said, 'For each hug, I will count a page towards your late assignment,’ which is inappropriate for a teacher," Jones said.
Investigators said Wall hugged her "numerous times," rubbed the victim’s shoulders and asked her to sit in his lap.
Deputies said Wall lifted her shirt, exposing her bra and commenting on the pattern, then made her strip down to see if her underwear matched.
"She felt obligated to allow herself to be touched because he is a teacher," Jones said.
Wall's students said they were shocked when they learned what happened.
"He was a great teacher. I don't know. I would have never expected this out of him," student Jeff Richardson said.
"He was a cool guy. I didn't expect it," student Dalton Long said.
The district said Wall was removed from the classroom, and later resigned.
Wall was arrested on a battery charge.
He was being held in the Lake County Jail on $5,000 bail, but he has since bonded out.
Cox Media Group
