PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (CBS12) \u2014 A Port Charlotte High School teacher was arrested Wednesday after investigators said she had sexual intercourse with a 17-year-old student on campus on two occasions within the last month, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff\u2019s Office. <\/p>\n
Detectives with the sheriff\u2019s office Major Crimes Unit said they were alerted on April 29 to possible unlawful sexual activity involving a teacher and a student at Port Charlotte High School, 18200 Cochran Blvd.<\/p>\n
Authorities identified the teacher as Heather M. Mashburn-Smith, 37. Investigators said they developed probable cause to arrest her after looking into the allegations. <\/p>\n
After what the sheriff\u2019s office described as a full post-Miranda confession, Mashburn-Smith was charged with Unlawful Sexual Activity with Certain Minors. The agency said the charge is enhanced to a first-degree felony because of her position as a teacher. She was booked into the Charlotte County Jail, where she was still being processed at the time the release was issued.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe actions of this individual are a direct violation of the duty every educator owes to students and families. We will not tolerate anything that compromises student safety. This individual has been placed on administrative leave as we work closely with law enforcement and pursue full accountability. Our focus remains on protecting our students and responding decisively,\u201d Charlotte County Public Schools Superintendent Mark Vianello said in a statement.<\/p>\n