A Hillsborough County high school English teacher was arrested on Friday for having sex with her student, deputies say.
According to Hillsborough County deputies, Caroline Lawson, 29, had a high school student over to her apartment in Tampa on Wednesday around 5 p.m. While in the apartment, the two engaged in consensual sex, according to the arrest affidavit. The report notes that the two did not use a condom.
Later that evening, Lawson sent a series of text messages to a third party, which described part of what occurred.
Lawson's text read: "I cheated on jameson... with a student".
The third party asked, "When you say cheated, do you mean slept with?"
Lawson replied: "Yes."
Law enforcement met with the student who provided a detailed account of their sexual intercourse and verbally identified Lawson as being his high school English teacher at Earl J. Lennard High School in Ruskin. The 17-year-old male student was able to provide Lawson's full name and age to authorities.
English teacher Caroline Lawson's staff photo at Earl J. Lennard High School in Ruskin. https://t.co/pFPtxhrP1H pic.twitter.com/uzaf90Iykb
— ABC Action News (@abcactionnews) November 3, 2017
Hillsborough County Public Schools issued the following statement:
“We are deeply disappointed by these charges. The safety of our students is our top priority. We are working with law enforcement as they investigate. This employee has resigned her position with the district.”
Lawson was arrested on Friday morning around 3 a.m. and was charged with two counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor. She was transported and booked into the Hillsborough County jail. Shortly after 8 a.m. she posted $30,000 bond and was released.
Mary Stringini is a digital reporter for ABC Action News. Follow her on Twitter @MaryWFTS.
