Teacher Who Had Sex With Student Gets Jail Time In Manatee: Brodsky

BRADENTON, FL — A former teacher in Bradenton has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for charges related to having sex with a student, according to a news release from State Attorney Ed Brodsky’s office.

Kassandra Leigh Moore pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including sexual battery on a person 12 or older but less than 18 by a person in familial/custodial authority, and transmission of material harmful to minors as both the sender and recipient.

Her crimes carried a possible maximum sentence of life in prison.

Moore, who taught at The Broach School, had a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old boy attending the private school, according to a probable cause affidavit written by Bradenton police.

Her crimes were committed on March 23, 2019, and she pleaded guilty to the charges against her March 11, 2022, Brodsky’s office said. She was sentenced May 10.

She sought a relationship with the teen through social media and covert meetups, the news release said.

The school learned about their relationship when another student told the principal about it, according to the police affidavit. This student shared screenshots of messages between the 15-year-old and Moore, including images of the teacher in lingerie and partially clothed, with school leaders and police.

During the investigation, the victim said he began chatting with Moore, who had been his teacher for several years, through Instagram. Initially, they discussed schoolwork, but their messages became flirtatious, the teen told police.

On many of the times they met in person, Moore would pick up the victim at Palma Sola Park and drive to G.T. Bray Park in Bradenton, where they found secluded areas, according to the affidavit.

Moore tried to get one colleague to provide a false alibi for her during the investigation, police reports show. She also asked another coworker how she could delete text messages from an unnamed student’s cell phone. She told this coworker that she believed the student was trying to get her in trouble.

Police also relied on DNA evidence and text messages between Moore and the victim during their investigation, records show.

During Moore’s trial, the student — now 18 — shared how the relationship affected his life, noting that he didn’t have a typical high school experience and lost many of his friends. In court, he said he had even tried to take his own life, the Bradenton Herald reported.

“What happened to my son is every parent’s worst nightmare. We are supposed to be able to send our children to school and know they are safe and taken care of by their teachers,” the victim's mother said through tears as she read a prepared statement.

At sentencing, the victim told the court he intended “to pursue a career in education so that other children may be afforded the positive educational experience taken from him” by Moore, the state attorney’s office said.

“We are glad that justice was served and hope that this can bring closure and healing to the victim and the victim’s family,” said Assistant State Attorney Lauren P Benson, the lead prosecutor on the case. “We wish the victim the very best in all efforts to take the criminal actions of the defendant and use them for the betterment of society.”