Pinellas teacher accused of trying to coerce 9-year-old to have sex for 10 months before arrest
Share this @internewscast.com

LARGO, Fla. (WFLA) — A teacher at Pinellas Preparatory Academy is accused of trying to send obscene material to a minor.

Lee Hughes was taken into custody on Thursday and has subsequently been dismissed from his position at the school. According to court documents, he had been having discussions with an undercover agent since last June about potentially engaging in sexual activities with a 9-year-old girl.

Footage from Ashley Snodgrass’s car dash camera captured a man at a plaza parking lot on Thursday, walking towards a parked trailer carrying a teddy bear. Shortly afterward, law enforcement approached him with weapons drawn. The man raised his hands, dropped the teddy bear, and complied with their commands.

“It’s a little crazy that it was — it’s just more something you see on TV rather than right in front of you,” Snodgrass said.

She said U.S. Marshall officers approached her shortly after.

“The undercover did say that it was the bust, and he thought he was meeting a little girl to have sex with,” Snodgrass said.

On Friday, Ashley received an email from her child’s school, PPA, informing her that a third-grade teacher, Mr. Hughes, had been arrested due to incidents involving a child or children not part of the Pinellas Prep community. The school stated that they acted swiftly and terminated his employment.

Snodgrass said when she zoomed in on the video, and saw Hughes mugshot posted online, that’s how she knew it was him. Parents at the school spoke anonymously about the arrest.

“My son had him last year. And I talked to my son about it after I heard about it and my son didn’t have anything negative to say about him,” said one parent. “I wish the police had been more forthcoming with the information that they had so that, again, students potentially wouldn’t have been unnecessarily at risk.”

“I don’t feel very safe with my kid at the moment,” said another parent. “Scared for my daughter’s safety here. I mean, don’t want anything like that to happen to my daughter. She’s supposed to trust these people.”

Court documents show since June 2024 Hughes was messaging an undercover account about the sexual abuse he’d like to inflict upon a 9-year-old girl. He requested child pornography of her. The documents outline his graphic conversations about his sexual desires toward the child.

It was also confirmed that Thursday, Hughes went to an agreed upon location to meet the 9-year-old girl where he was arrested and admitted to his conduct in an interview with authorities.

The location where the dash camera video was taken is about four miles from PPA.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Trump and Vought to Discuss Planned Federal Budget Cuts and Layoffs During Possible Government Shutdown

President Trump announced he would meet with Office and Management Budget Director…

Imprisoned Yet Unyielding: Seasoned Turkish Journalist Continues Impact with ‘Prison Journalism’

ANKARA – Turkish journalist Fatih Altayli has been imprisoned, but his reporting…

Hawks Taken During L.A. Rams NFL Game

IE 11 is not supported. For the best experience, please visit our…

Virginia Poll: Spanberger Leads Earle-Sears by 10 Points in Governor’s Race

(WAVY) — The latest Emerson College Polling/The Hill survey conducted in September…

Authorities Report Four Injured in Synagogue Incident

Internet Explorer 11 isn’t supported. For the best experience, please visit our…

FDA’s Approval of New Generic Abortion Pill Sparks Conservative Outcry

Video above: Legal challenges following the Dobbs Supreme Court decision This week,…

Duo Allegedly Involved in Trafficking Women at New York City Sex Den

IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site…

With Japan’s population crisis, anti-foreigner sentiments and political figures are gaining traction

TOKYO – Outside a train station near the capital, a large crowd…

Johnson City Commission to deliberate on mayor’s resignation submission

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — The Johnson City Commission will consider Mayor…

Israeli Forces Stop Aid Flotilla Heading to Gaza

Internet Explorer 11 is not supported. For the best experience, please visit…

President of South Korea Apologizes for Mismanagement in Foreign Adoption Programs

SEOUL – The president of South Korea issued an apology on Thursday…

BMW Issues Recall for Over 145,000 Vehicles Due to Fire Hazard from Overheating Starters

(The Hill) – Over 145,000 BMW vehicles have been recalled due to…