A teacher accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student in the United States was arrested again on a similar sex crime incident.
Hayley Close-Hallmark, a 35-year-old Florida teacher who was once named Escambia County’s Social Studies Teacher of the Year, was arrested for the first time in February of that year for “being immoral and lustful with a student by a figure of authority.” . CBS Miami.
Police said the victim was a ninth grade school girl and admitted her affair with another teacher and reported it later.
The interactions began in the 2017/18 school year by texting each other, but allegedly turning into sexually explicit text messages before becoming physical.
At the time, the victim was helping Close-Hallmark coach the school’s soccer team in Okaloosa County.
Their relationship reportedly ended when the student turned 17 in 2020.
Close-Hallmark was a history teacher and trainer, most recently at Ruckel Secondary School in Niceville. He was arrested and suspended free of charge.
In March of this year, he pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him.
On April 13 this year, authorities again arrested the suspect for the sexual harassment of a 15-year-old student that allegedly occurred in 2019.
Assistant Attorney General Christine Bosau said the most recent incident occurred at a school dance team event in Osceola County, according to the Northwest Florida Daily News.
Bosau said enough evidence had been gathered to indict Close-Hallmark again, and the suspect coached the school’s dance team.
Close-Hallmark is being held unsecured in Okaloosa County Prison and a preparatory conference is scheduled for June 14th.