The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) on Friday was contacted in reference to a Lecanto High School teacher sending lewd text messages and images to a student.
During the investigation, Detective Mission with the CCSO Special Victims Unit obtained evidence that revealed 33-year-old Adam Joseph Joerres had been engaging in inappropriate conversations of a sexual nature with a student through text messages spanning several months.
Officials made contact with Joerres to speak with him regarding this case. During his interview, Joerres made statements that confirmed the allegations, the CCSO said. He was subsequently placed under arrest for solicitation of sexual conduct from a student by an authority figure.
“Very few professions are as trusted with nurturing our children as teachers are. Unfortunately, in his official capacity, Joerres abused our community’s trust in him,” said Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast. “A school should always be a place of safety and learning, not somewhere that a predator like Joerres takes advantage of their position and authority.”
As a result of this investigation, CCSO officials arrested Joerres, and he is currently being held at the Citrus County Detention Facility with a bond of $10,000.