BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A former Brevard County teacher was arrested Friday, accused of trying to meet a teenage girl for sex.
Channel 9's Field Sutton learned that it allegedly started with a relationship with the girl when she was an elementary school student.
Sheriff's investigators said teacher Andrew Bayard allegedly struck up an inappropriate relationship with an elementary-aged student at Suntree Elementary.
"That's absolutely shocking to me. I would have never thought of him to do something like that," said student Gigi Gorgone, who said she knew Bayard.
She said he appeared to be friendly with the students in his class.
"That was pretty much the extent of it. He was just a nice teacher," she said.
Investigators said one of Bayard's former students reported him.
According to investigators, after the girl moved out of state, she went to her father after she began receiving texts from Bayard. She also alleged that he sent her an obscene video of himself.
Bayard was arrested Friday when he showed up at a prearranged spot where he was expecting to meet the girl for sex, investigators said.
Investigators said that after they were told of the girl's allegations, they assumed her role in conversations with Bayard.
They said Bayard believed the girl was returning to Orange County, and that she had agreed to meet him.
Bayard was being held at the Brevard County Jail on a $70,000 bond.
Brevard County School District officials said they did not know of the allegations against Bayard, and that his contract had not been renewed after the last school year for other reasons.
WFTV
