A Florida substitute teacher has been arrested after 16-year-old girl reported him for sending her sexually charged messages and requesting nude pictures.
Chase Crabb, 23, allegedly sent the messages, which included pictures of his crotch and attempts to convince the girl, a student at Haines City High School, to have sex with him, between December 2023 and December 2024,
The girl finally had enough earlier this month and reported the messages to her mother. The mother contacted the state Department of Children and Families, which referred the case to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators learned that Crabb initially contacted the girl over email when he learned that she’d broken up with her boyfriend, and the contact continued over Instagram, TikTok, and Discord. The messaging became increasingly sexual:
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- 10/02/24 – “Uhhhhh, I mean is it wrong for me to be sexually attracted to a minor? WHO SAID THAT”
- 10/22/24 – “Nah cause [adult females] won’t be interesting It’s more fun to groom heh”
- 10/23/24 – “The only time I’d cut your off is if I genuinely felt like if I continued the police would come after me.”
The Sun said that Crabb was employed as a substitute through Kelly Services, but last worked in March 2024, when he was fired because of inactivity.
“Sexual exploitation of any child by anyone, in every circumstance is horrific and unacceptable, especially when it’s a substitute teacher,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. “They are trusted to guide and protect our kids, not take advantage of them. When someone in that role crosses the line, it’s a serious betrayal of trust. We’re committed to making sure anyone who harms a child is held accountable and faces the consequences for their actions.”
Crabb was arrested on Wednesday and charged with transmission of harmful material to a minor and unlawful use of a two-way communications device. He made an initial court appearance on Thursday, when a judge ordered him to stay away from children and off the internet. His arraignment is scheduled for February 25.
