PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – Lee Hughes, a 46-year-old former third-grade teacher at Pinellas Prep Academy, pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court to multiple charges related to the attempted sexual exploitation of a minor.
The charges include the attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor, attempted coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, and the receipt and possession of child sexual abuse material. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announced the plea this week.
Court documents indicate the investigation began in June 2024 when Hughes initiated contact with an undercover officer posing as the parent of a 9-year-old girl. Over several months, Hughes allegedly engaged in explicit digital communications, expressing a desire to babysit the child and stating, “I’d definitely love her on my lap lol.”
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According to the indictment, after receiving a photo of the fully clothed child, Hughes sent a message with his genitals exposed and suggested it be shown to the girl to “see if she likes lol.”
Federal authorities state that between June 2024 and May 2025, Hughes sent ten explicit photos and videos of himself to the undercover officer, requesting they be shared with the child while describing intended sexual abuse.
On May 1, 2025, Hughes traveled to a predetermined location with a purple teddy bear, believing he was meeting the 9-year-old. He was apprehended at the scene by the FBI. A subsequent search of his mobile device confirmed the possession of child sexual abuse material.
Following his arrest, Pinellas Prep Academy terminated Hughes’s employment. In a statement, Board Chairman Julie Meyers confirmed that Hughes had passed a mandatory Level II background check, which includes fingerprinting and law enforcement review.
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Meyers stated the school was not informed of the federal investigation until the arrest occurred and noted there are currently no suspected improper interactions between Hughes and PPA students. The administration is seeking clarification from law enforcement regarding the timeline of the notification.
Hughes faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. A sentencing date has not been set. The case was investigated by the FBI and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Abigail K. King as part of Project Safe Childhood, a Department of Justice initiative launched in 2006 to coordinate federal, state, and local resources against child exploitation.
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