Authorities in Florida have arrested a middle school teacher on suspicion of carrying out an illicit relationship with a 14-year-old student.
According to Newsweek, police believe the married 26-year-old teacher began taking an inappropriate interest in the student in November, which played out with her sending him nude images of herself and purchasing marijuana for him.
The eighth-grade student reportedly told his parents about the relationship earlier this week, which led them to contact police.
According to the alleged victim, his teacher took him from his home on multiple occasions and dropped him off again early the next morning, according to Fox News.
He claimed his academic performance suffered during this period as a result of her behavior.
Records indicate Stephanie Peterson Ferri was arrested and booked into Volusia County Branch Jail with bail set at $25,000.
She is expected to face charges including lewd or lascivious battery and transmission of harmful materials to a minor.
When the allegations became public, she reportedly resigned from her position at New Smyrna Beach Middle School, where she had been employed since 2016.
She became a full-time teacher in 2013 after working of several years as a substitute teacher in the same district.
Ferri said she was leaving “for personal reasons,” according to a district spokesperson.
In response to the news, the district has also notified parents and instructed anyone with children possibly affected to contact the Child Exploitation Unit of the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities have not yet determined whether they believe this was an isolated incident.
[Featured image: Stephanie Peterson Ferri/Volusia County Sheriff’s Office]