PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- A Palm Beach Gardens High School teacher has been arrested, suspected of having sexual relations with a 15-year-old female student.
Based on an anonymous tip about a teacher having a sexual relationship with his student, the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department initiated a joint investigation with the Palm Beach County School Board Police Department.
Police said Christopher Brooks admitted he plays online games with the alleged victim who is also his student. The police report says in September Brooks allegedly picked up the teen from her neighborhood and drove her to the beach, then back to his place where the teen told officers they had sex.
"When the allegations were first made early in the school year the teacher was immediately reassigned and has not been on our campus or had contact with our students since that time," said Principal Larry Clawson during an automated voice message sent out to parents.
Brooks denied the sexual relations. Detectives say online game chat conversations revealed Brooks told the teen, "I was thinking that we should not do this again even if it was awesome and exciting and taboos. Later telling the teen in the chat "we can all you want once you've graduated."
Police say the teen admitted to being picked up by Brooks a second time and having sexual relations again.
Detectives say they used cell phone records and cell phone tower locations to verify Brooks picked up the teen on both occasions. Brooks told the officer he's been a teacher at the school for two years. He said he teaches psychology, personal finance, U.S. History, economics and American government.
School district spokeswoman Kathy Burstein said Brooks is no longer with the district.
At a hearing in court Wednesday morning, a judge set his bond at $50,000. If Brooks posts bail he will be under house arrest and the judge ordered him to avoid contact with minors.