On Tuesday, a Lakeland, Fla., teacher’s aide was arrested for attempted sexual assault on an 11-year-old boy, according to WTSP 10 News. Alecia Dotson was caught after inappropriate text messages between her and the fifth-grade student were found by his mother.
The 45-year-old woman, who worked at Highland Grove Elementary School, exchanged about 100 explicit texts over the past school year with the child, police say. The boy's mother found the disturbing messages and alerted the Lakeland Police Department June 28.
"While the Lakeland Police was at the mother's house conducting an investigation, Dotson again sent a text message saying, 'Love bug what are you doing' and 'I'll be sure to tell her we won't have sex on the first visit…LOL,'" said Lakeland Police Sgt. Gary Gross in a statement, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The police's special victims unit took possession of the boy’s cell phone and began its official investigation the following day.
Cops pretending to be the youngster texted Dotson June 30, and arranged to meet with her at the Cinemark Movie Theater to engage in “unlawful sexual conduct,” reported WESH 2 News.
The paraprofessional stopped at the Lakeland Square Mall to pick up a bottle of strawberry warming lubricant from Spencer’s before arriving at the theater—where she was met by the police and taken into custody.
Dotson told authorities that her relationship with the boy had evolved over the last three weeks. It started as a “mentorship,” became a “crush” and then turned into a “romantic relationship."
She also said even though she knew the boy was in the fifth grade, he told her he was between the ages of 13 and 17, according to the Ledger. When authorities asked her if she really believed that, she said, “No, I was trying to convince myself that he was to make myself feel better maybe.”
Dotson was charged with two counts of attempted sexual battery on a child under the age of 12, using a computer device to solicit a child, traveling to meet a minor and unlawful use of communications. She is now in the Polk County Jail, and was immediately suspended from her $13,870 per year job without pay. Polk County Superintendent of Schools Kathryn LeRoy will recommend her termination at the July 28 meeting of the Polk County School Board, according to the Orland Sentinel.
