Facebook/Volusia County Sheriff’s Office
Stephanie Peterson is a former middle school teacher who was arrested on February 28 after she allegedly had a sex with a 14-year-old student. Peterson, a 26-year-old former teacher at New Smyrna Beach Middle School, also allegedly sent the boy nude photos.
Peterson was arrested on two counts of lewd or lascivious battery and one count of transmission of harmful materials to a minor on Wednesday, February 28.
A report from The Daytona Beach News-Journal said that the court affidavit indicated Peterson would pick up the boy at his house late at night after her husband left for work.
via Volusia County Sheriff’s Office Facebook:
The relationship is believed to have started in November. A detective responded to the victim’s family’s home Tuesday after the student disclosed the relationship to his parents. The student, an 8th grader, told detectives Peterson would send him nude photos. He said she started coming to his home at night, picking him up around 11 p.m. on several occasions and bringing him back around 1 or 2 a.m.
The victim reported that Peterson told him they couldn’t tell anyone about their relationship or they’d get in trouble. He also said she bought him marijuana and bowls for smoking it, and his grades suffered after their relationship started.
Peterson was being held Volusia County Branch Jail on $25,000 bond and resigned from her teaching position on Monday, February 26.
Police want anyone with information about Peterson to contact VCSO Child Exploitation Unit at 386-323-3574.
