Florida Teacher Performed Oral Sex On Minor Boy During Graduation Party, Charged

A Florida teacher was arrested Thursday (June 25) for having sex with a minor boy.

On June 6, the teacher, identified as 49-year-old Leslie Bushart, performed oral sex on a juvenile at a graduation party for the victim’s older sister. After the encounter, the teacher told someone at the party about it who, in turn, informed the boy’s mother. The mother confronted the teacher who immediately left the party. The mother then contacted the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Bushart was detained for questioning, during which she confessed to the crime. She told the investigators that she and the victim walked away from the crowd together. She wanted to smoke marijuana but was so drunk that she couldn’t light it. She then performed oral sex on the minor.

Following the confession, Bushart, who worked at Lake Gibson Middle School in Lakeland, was taken into custody and charged with lewd battery. Meanwhile, the Polk County Public Schools District told local website Patch that the accused, who worked at the school district for 29 years, has been placed on administrative leave. The school district will also soon take a call on terminating Bushart’s employment.

Speaking about the incident, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said, “Leslie Bushart victimized a teenage boy. She betrayed her profession, as well as her friends during what was supposed to be a very special day. There is technically one victim in this case, but the entire family and school community have suffered from this." Investigation into the case was ongoing.

The incident comes weeks after a Florida school teacher was arrested for trying to kiss a teenage girl forcibly. Michael Stephan Strasser met the 19-year-old girl on a dating app and days later, they agreed to meet at the accused’s home to smoke marijuana. While smoking marijuana at the 30-year-old teacher’s home, the accused put his hand on the girl’s thigh. The teen, however, felt uncomfortable and declined his advances. When he attempted to kiss her, she managed to push him away and left the apartment immediately. The accused, who worked at Key West High School, was arrested and charged with battery.