PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. — The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office arrested a Pasco County teacher after they say he sexually battered an underaged student.
The investigation started on Jan. 7 after detectives received information about an inappropriate relationship between Kyle Handfield, 32, and a student who was 14-years-old at the time of the incident, a news release from the sheriff's office reports.
During the investigation, detectives say they discovered the relationship happened from 2017 through 2018. Handfield was the teen's teacher at the time.
Handfield started to communicate with the teen through a social networking site, the sheriff's office explains.
The teen reportedly told detectives that Handfield "engaged in inappropriate sexual activity with her" while she was a student at Pinellas Park Middle School.
Through different investigative techniques, the sheriff's office says detectives were able to confirm the teen's statements. Handfield was then arrested by deputies.
He is facing charges of three counts of sexual battery custodial authority.
Handfeild reportedly was a teacher at the middle school from March 2015 until August 2020. He later became employed with Pasco County Schools at Fivay High School.
Fivay High School principal Jason Joens released a statement on the school's Facebook account saying, "Mr. Handfield’s illegal behavior does not involve any of our students at Fivay High School. The safety of our students is our highest priority, and our school district will work with law enforcement to determine whether there has been any additional illegal or inappropriate behavior. Mr. Handfield has been our Band Director since 2020. At this time, he has been placed on administrative leave."
Pasco County Schools released the following statement:
"The district will inform Mr. Handfield that he is on administrative leave. The Fivay High School principal has notified his parents and staff of these very serious charges that allegedly occurred when he was a teacher in another county."
And a spokesperson for the Pinellas County Schools released a statement on the arrest of Handfield, urging anyone to report inappropriate behavior to an adult as it relates to the safety of students.
The full statement reads, "A Pinellas County Schools staff member immediately contacted law enforcement after learning about this case. Employment records show Mr. Kyle Handfield joined the district in March 2015 as a substitute teacher. A few months later he was hired as a full-time teacher in August 2015. Mr. Handfield worked at Pinellas Park Middle School until he left the district on August 14, 2020 for a teaching position outside the district. We urge anyone to report inappropriate behavior to an adult. The safety of our students and staff is Pinellas County Schools’ top priority."
Detectives say they're unaware of any more minors involved, as of now.
This is an ongoing investigation.
Anyone with information on this incident, please contact Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Crimes Against Children Unit Detective Leib at 727-582-6566.