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

Violent Felon Detained During Immigration Raid at California Cannabis Farm

() Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed more than 300 immigrants in…

Pennsylvania Takes Action Against AI-Generated Deepfake and Imposter Content

() Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a new law that defines deepfakes…

Texas Volunteers Mobilize for Cleanup Efforts Following Devastating Floods

COMFORT, Texas – It began with a stranger asking “Do you need…

Missouri Police Pursuit Concludes in Rollover Crash

() A car chase involving a vehicle that was speeding over 100…

Democrats Demand Additional Evidence in Epstein Case

() Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, told he is calling for the release…

Deadly Fire Engulfs Massachusetts Assisted-Living Facility, Leaving 9 Dead and Residents Trapped

FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) — A devastating fire engulfed an assisted-living facility…

Orlando’s 407 CONNECT Fleet Grows: More Room for Passengers

VERO BEACH, Fla. – And then there were two. A second 407…

Local Police Discuss ‘Operation Southern Slow Down’ to Combat Speeding Across Five States

AUGUSTA, Ga. ()- Starting Monday, the 9th annual “Operation Southern Slow Down”…

Key Information About the Deadly Fire at a Massachusetts Assisted Living Facility That Left 9 Dead

Nine individuals lost their lives and many others were injured in a…

Efforts to Find Texas Flood Victims to Continue Following Additional Rainfall

KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — On Monday, crews were anticipated to continue searching…

Federal Workers Prepare for Mass Layoffs After Supreme Court Approval

A Supreme Court decision giving the Trump administration the greenlight to lay…

An invasive insect spreads through multiple states

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — An invasive insect has made its way across…