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Ex-teacher in Melbourne gets 5 years for sex with 13-year-old boy

MELBOURNE, Fla. — A Brevard County teacher will not be back in the classroom now that he's pleaded guilty to having sex with a 13-year-old boy.

In April April, investigators arrested Robert McRee, who worked as a professor at the former Brevard Community College, which is now Eastern Florida State.

McRee's Melbourne neighbors told Channel 9's Jeff Deal they got suspicious when the boy came to their house looking for his cellphone.

Charles Boutelle said he wasn't happy to learn what his next door neighbor of seven  years had been up to.

"I want to put a big pink sign on (the) yard that says, 'Pedophile lives here,'" said Boutelle.

Melbourne police said McRee met the teen online then picked him up and drove him to a secluded area near Turtlemound and Post roads to have sex in his car.

"The 13-year-old boy was here in my driveway. He admitted it. The guy needs to go," said Boutelle.

Boutelle said the 13-year-old used GPS to track his phone to the neighborhood and initially knocked on his door.

But when police arrived, officers called the phone and McRee answered.

Investigators said McRee admitted he had sex with the teen and was arrested.

Eastern Florida State College immediately suspended the communications teacher and said he's since resigned.

McRee has since pleaded guilty and neighbors are hoping he'll stay locked up for a long time.

"It's bad. Everybody around here has kids. I have two teenaged boys," said Boutelle.

McRee has been sentenced to five years in prison followed by 10 years of probation.