In Florida, a teacher is accused of dating a student.
Conor Westrate, 31, was recently detained by St. Petersburg, Florida, officials after learning about the incident, as reported by MSN News.
The crime was allegedly committed in downtown St. Petersburg, where Westrate met a 16-year-old girl at a hotel. There were no other specifics regarding what took place in the hotel.
Westrate was the victim’s teacher. Therefore he knew her, according to the detectives. There was no information on the precise school he worked at, but reports indicate it was in Pinellas County, Florida. Westrate had a LinkedIn profile that identified him as American History instructor.
Following his arrest, Westrate allegedly told police that the victim had claimed to be 18 years old rather than 16.
Westrate was detained and accused of having illicit intercourse with specific kids. According to WFLA, he was also charged with failing to appear in court concerning a petty theft case.
Westrate could be sentenced to up to 15 years in jail or fined up to $10,000 if found guilty of sexual offense.
Sex Crime Punishment
This sex crime is classified as a second-degree felony in Florida, with a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail, 15 years of sex offender probation, and a maximum fine of $10,000, according to the Umansky Law Firm website.
Anyone under the legal age of consent in Florida, 18, cannot consent to sexual behavior.
For this reason, teachers who assert that they have consensual relationships with their minor students nonetheless risk being charged with a crime. When the pupil is under 15, the teacher may be charged with lewd and lascivious battery.
Even if students lied about their age, Florida does not recognize ignorance of the student’s age as a valid excuse for engaging in illicit sexual behavior with a minor. Therefore, suspects must obtain legal counsel from a sex crime attorney who can inform them of any viable defenses against the allegations.
