TAMPA, Fla. – A teacher at Idea Hope Charter School in Tampa has been arrested and charged with sexual activity with a minor.
Vernon White Jr., 32, was taken into custody Thursday, following an investigation by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) Special Victims Section.
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The investigation began on June 17, 2024, when deputies responded to a report of an incident at a Marathon Gas Station on North Parsons Avenue. Deputies learned that White had given a ride to a 17-year-old, and during that ride, they engaged in sexual acts.
While White initially denied any sexual activity, DNA evidence confirmed the victim’s account.
White is facing multiple charges, including:
- Unlawful Sexual Activity With a Minor (x2)
- Lewd or Lascivious Touching of a Minor 16 or 17 Years of Age by a Person 24 Years of Age or Older
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The victim was not a student at Idea Hope Charter School, where White has been employed as a teacher since 2021. He has no prior disciplinary history at the school.
“A teacher is supposed to be a trusted community member who looks out for the well-being of children. This crime is a reprehensible betrayal of someone in a position of authority,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “Our detectives conducted a thorough investigation to bring this individual to justice.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
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