ORANGE PARK, Florida – A Ridgeview High School teacher has been arrested following an investigation into allegations that he sent sexually explicit messages and photographs to a student.
According to the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, authorities and Clay County District Schools received a report on May 19 that a juvenile student had received inappropriate social media messages from a teacher.
The teacher, identified as 48-year-old Christopher Suarez, was immediately placed on administrative leave while detectives investigated the allegations.
Investigators determined that Suarez allegedly began communicating with the student through a social media platform earlier this year. Authorities said that in the days leading up to the report, Suarez sent sexually explicit photographs and messages to the student.
On May 29, Suarez was arrested and charged with:
- Six counts of Transmission of Harmful Materials to a Minor
- One count of Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Commit a Felony
Suarez was booked into the Clay County Jail and is being held on a total bond of $525,021.
The sheriff’s office emphasized that the investigation remains active and ongoing.
Anyone with information related to the case is encouraged to contact Detective Andrew Carter at (904) 264-6512 or by email at acarter@claysheriff.com.