LAKELAND, Fla. – Polk County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit detectives have arrested and charged a 33-year-old Lakeland man, a Kathleen High School teacher, with a sex offense on a student.
Deputies say the suspect, Brandon Adams, had an inappropriate relationship with an 18-year-old student during the 2021-2022 school year and beyond.
Brandon Adams has worked for Polk County Public Schools since August 2018.
According to deputies, the victim said that she moved in with Adams in June of 2021, when she was 18 years old, and had a consensual sexual relationship with Adams while he was still teaching at Kathleen High and during her senior year of high school (2021-2022).
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Adams has been on leave since November — PCPS has been investigating an incident that is separate from the PCSO case that led to Adams’ arrest.
“I’m disgusted by the behavior described in this investigation. It is unacceptable for an educator to abuse their trust and authority by having a relationship with a student. We appreciate the work of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office to help protect students, and ensure that people who commit these violations are punished and brought to justice,” said Superintendent Fred Heid.
“This suspect used his position of authority over one of his students in the most egregious way. We will not tolerate this kind of behavior,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
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