Pasco substitute teacher faces sex charge

NEW PORT RICHEY — A Pasco County substitute teacher was arrested Monday and charged with having a sexual relationship with an underage male student at Mitchell High School.

Lisa Robyn Marinelli, 40, of 9824 Nicklaus Drive, New Port Richey, had been under investigation by the Pasco Sheriff's Office since late February when the victim's father reported seeing his son get out of Marinelli's car while pulling up his pants, said Sheriff's Office spokesman Kevin Doll.

During the course of the investigation, the father turned over records of hundreds of cell phone calls and text messages between the boy and Marinelli.

Pasco school officials dismissed Marinelli on Feb. 29. The sheriff's investigation had begun by that point.

Marinelli is the latest in a string of teachers accused of inappropriate relationships with students. Mary Jo Spack, who teaches at Freedom High in New Tampa, was arrested last week.

Jeffrey S. Solochek, Times staff writer