TITUSVILLE, Fla. – A 27-year-old teacher’s aide at a Titusville school was arrested Friday on allegations of sending explicit videos and photos to a 16-year-old student.
Lindsey Noele Thorson, an aide at Fieldston Preparatory School on Columbia Boulevard, was arrested on charges of transmission of materials harmful to minors and tampering with evidence. Fieldston Prep focuses on students with special needs.
Titusville police said Thorson turned herself in to authorities at the Brevard County Jail after a warrant was issued for her arrest.
Police reports show that despite the incident being reported to the school, the investigation did not begin until a parent later notified authorities about the alleged misconduct.
An investigation began last month after a friend of the victim ran away from home, fearing he would get in trouble at school for telling on Thorson after the victim shared screenshots of the exchanges with him.
He told school officials about the photos of the messages exchanged between Thorson and the victim on Instagram, where she sent him several sexually explicit videos and photos of herself, police said.
A parent of the victim’s friend told police about the message, even though Fieldston officials did not, News 6 partner Florida Today reported.
The victim’s parent also told police that Thorson’s mother was a member of school administration, according to officials.
During interviews with police, Fieldston Preparatory School Principal Cindy Colletti “appeared to dismiss the allegations,” according to investigative reports from the Titusville Police Department.
“This case provides an important reminder that school officials, by law, are mandatory reporters of suspected abuse, regardless of whether they believe the allegations or not," lead Detective Jessica Cabrera said in a statement.
Thoson was booked into Brevard County Jail and was later released on bond.
News 6 partner Florida Today contributed to this story.