Florida Teacher Arrested for Sex with Boy

(North Port, Florida) A 21-year-old local woman and caretaker at Palm Christian Academy, Crystal Marie Bashford, was arrested Monday for allegedly engaging in sex with a 14-year-old boy. Bashford has been charged with one count of lewd or lascivious battery.

According to Detective Mary Thoroman, Bashford and the boy were friends who had sex one time.

The boy confided in an employee at the George Mullen Center in North Port, who in turn contacted the Department of Children and Families, which then contacted North Port Police, said Thoroman.

The victim said the sex occurred in November 2006, when he was 14 years old and Bashford was 20, according to records.

Bashford was booked at the Sarasota County Jail and released on $2,500 bail.

Palm Christian Academy provides daycare and pre-kindergarten. North Port is a small town about midway between Sarasota and Fort Myers.