SEBRING, Fla. - A Highlands County middle school teacher is now behind bars, accused of having a sexual relationship with her 14-year-old student.
Arrest reports state that Stacy Hooks, 38, of Sebring, developed an inappropriate relationship with one of her students at Hill Gustat Middle School, where she has been working as a middle school math teacher. The victim was 14-years-old at the time of the incident, reports show.
Investigators searched the victim's phone with his mother's permission and found Hooks sent nude pictures of herself, including a collage of her buttocks. Investigators also said the phone revealed text messages, showing a sexual relationship between the teacher and student.
Investigators said Hooks also traveled from Sebring to Lake Placid to take part in one of the sexual encounters. The relationship started as early as May 2015 and lasted until investigators got involved this month.
Hooks has been arrested on five counts of lewd battery, three counts of transmission of material harmful to a minor by electronic device and one count of travelling to meet a minor to engage in unlawful sexual conduct. All of these incidents occurred within Highlands County, deputies said.
Highlands County Sheriff's deputies arrested Hooks and took her to the Highlands County Jail without incident. Her bond is set at $625,000, jail officials said.
Hooks has been a teacher with Highlands County schools for 15 years, teaching both in elementary and middle school. She has been at Hill Gustat Middle School since 2012.
The investigation continues; anyone with additional information on this case is requested to contact Detective Orlando Esquibel at the Highlands County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit, 863-402-7357.
Anyone with information who wants to remain anonymous is asked to call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS (8477).