Teacher fired after ‘offering $260 to sexually assault toddler'
A teacher has been fired for allegedly trying to pay to sexually assault a two-year-old girl.
Xavier Alexander, a fourth-grade teacher at Grove Park Elementary School in Palm Beach Gardens, in the US state of Florida, has been fired, the Palm Beach County School District said in a statement.
Alexander, 27, also advertised himself on websites as a babysitter, investigators said.
The firing came hours after a Palm Beach Sheriff's Office arrest report outlining its case against Alexander was released by the courts.
According to the report, a 39-year-old father posted a Craigslist ad on March 26 saying he was looking for someone to split a motel room for a few days as he waited to move into his new home.
He noted in the ad he had a two-year-old daughter.
“No weirdos or drugs please,” the man wrote.
The man soon received texts from an unknown messenger who allegedly asked: “Would I ever be alone with your daughter?”
When told no, the messenger replied he would go elsewhere. The father contacted the sheriff's office.
Police impersonate father to lure teacher to hotel
After reading the texts, deputies impersonated the father and texted back the messenger could be alone with the girl if he paid for two nights of the motel room.
The father and messenger eventually agreed to meet at the motel on Thursday, with the messenger bringing US$200 (A$262).
Detectives said they arrested Alexander when he arrived at the door with a condom stashed in his shoe. They say Alexander admitted sending the texts, saying he had a sexual addiction. He denied ever molesting a child before.
Alexander is being held on US$1 million (A$1.3 million) bail at the Palm Beach County jail.
Palm Beach County Public Defender Carey Haughwout, whose office is defending Alexander, said her office did not comment on pending cases.
The school district is providing counselling to Alexander's students and their families.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
