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Former Pasco teacher pleads guilty to online enticement of Belize teens

 
Published Oct. 22, 2014

TAMPA — A former Pasco County middle school teacher has pleaded guilty in federal court to online enticement of two minor girls for sex and now faces 10 years to life in prison.

His intended victims, ages 13 and 15, lived in Belize.

David Wendel Thompson, 49, of Seffner used Facebook to try to coax the girls to have sex with him, promising money, according to his plea agreement.

One protested that she wasn't a prostitute and he wrote back, "but u need help."

He left Tampa for Belize City on March 14 but was denied entry and arrested in Miami on the return home. He admitted to federal authorities that he knew the girls were underage.

Prior to his arrest, Thompson taught social studies at Centennial Middle School in Pasco. His sentencing is Jan. 20.