Thursday, December 05, 2019

FLORIDA TEACHER MADE HER SON’S FRIEND A HAPPY CAMPER

Escambia County teacher accused of having sex with teen 'several hundred times'

By Colin Warren-Hicks

Pensacola News Journal
December 3, 2019

An Escambia County School District special education teacher allegedly had a sexual relationship with one of her son’s teenage friends for more than a year.

Susan Weddle, 40, of Cantonment, was arrested Monday and charged with lewd and lascivious behavior, sexual assault and using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony. She was booked into the Escambia County Jail on Monday.

On Tuesday, Circuit Court Judge Thomas Dannheisser set Weddle's bond at $150,000. Her next court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 26.

Weddle resigned Monday from her position as a learning resource specialist at the J.E. Hall Center, according to Escambia County School District Superintendent Malcolm Thomas

Thomas said Weddle had worked at the center as a learning resource specialist — essentially a teacher who helps train other teachers — for the past 11 months. Prior to that, Weddle was employed as a teacher at L.D. McArthur Elementary School. In both roles, Weddle had worked with special education students and special education teachers.

“We will not have any tolerance for a teacher that crosses that line,” Thomas told the News Journal on Tuesday. “Allegations of crossing the line sexually with a student, are some of the most serious allegations that a teacher can face.”

Report: She told him she knew it was wrong, but then eventually gave in

According to Weddle's arrest report, one of her son’s friends admitted to authorities in late November that he had been in a sexual relationship with the woman for more than a year.

The teenager told Escambia County Sheriff’s Office investigators that he was 15 and Weddle was 39 at the outset of their sexual relationship. He estimated they had sex “several hundred times” at various locations including her house, his home, her vehicle and the beach, the report stated.

“Weddle was his first and only sexual partner, and he believed himself to be in love with her,” stated her arrest report.

The teen told authorities that the first time the two had sex was after he and Weddle's son attended a football game and a party together, and then went back to Weddle's house and started drinking, the report stated. The teen said after he was intoxicated, he tried to persuade Weddle to have sex with him. She told him she knew it was wrong, but then eventually gave in, according to the report.

Weddle allegedly gave the teenager an iPhone as a gift

A high school guidance counselor notified authorities last month about the possible relationship between the teen and Weddle. A witness told the counselor about discovering explicit text messages between the two, and the counselor reported the incident to the Department of Children and Families.

A witness also told the ECSO about seeing Weddle and the teenager kissing April 3, when the witness had been hired to pressure wash Weddle’s home. That same witness told investigators the teenager had previously shown him naked photos of Weddle on his phone, as well as a video of what he believed to be the two having sex, the report stated.

During the more than year-long relationship, Weddle allegedly gave the teenager an iPhone, necklace and a bracelet as gifts.

The teen said the two discussed future plans of having a life together occasionally but they would routinely break up over jealousy issues, according to the arrest report.

The teen also said he and Weddle routinely exchanged nude photos but claimed all of the devices used for their communications had been destroyed or factory reset.

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