In a troubling story from Kissimmee, Florida, a former substitute teacher named Chase Crabb, who is just 23 years old, has been arrested for allegedly having an inappropriate relationship with a 16-year-old student at Haines City High School.
The situation came to light when the girl confided in her mother about the explicit messages she had been receiving from Crabb. This prompted her mother to report the matter, leading to an investigation by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the sheriff’s office, Crabb and the girl began communicating in December 2023 when he was working as a substitute teacher. Their conversations started off innocently over email but quickly escalated to social media platforms like TikTok, Discord, and Instagram, as well as texting.
Over the course of a year, Crabb allegedly sent the girl sexually explicit messages, including inappropriate photos of himself. He even asked her to send him nude pictures and tried to persuade her to engage in sexual activities with him. Some of the messages he sent hinted that he knew what he was doing was wrong, with comments like, “Uhhhhh, I mean is it wrong for me to be sexually attracted to a minor?”
After the complaint was filed on January 21, 2025, authorities moved quickly. Crabb was arrested the following day and is currently being held in the Polk County Jail without bond. He faces serious charges, including the transmission of harmful material to a minor and unlawful use of a two-way communication device.
Crabb had last worked at Haines City High School in March 2024, and it was reported that he was a temporary employee through Kelly Services, which ended his employment due to inactivity. Interestingly, the Polk County Public Schools had not received any prior complaints about his behavior with students.
During his initial court appearance on January 23, Crabb was ordered to stay away from minors and to refrain from using any electronic devices that have internet access. He is set to appear in court again on February 25 for his felony arraignment. This case has raised serious concerns about the safety of students and the responsibilities of educators.
