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Former Palm Harbor teacher accused of molesting student

 
Published July 25, 2015

A former Westlake Christian School teacher was arrested on charges that he molested a student, according to court records.

Joseph Habegger, 55, of Tarpon Springs faces a charge of lewd and lascivious molestation.

The Pinellas Sheriff's Office began investigating Habegger after receiving information that he "had been having outside contact and unusual contact with some of his students," records state.

During the 2013-2014 school year, the victim won a school auction to spend a day with a teacher outside of class. He chose Habegger, who was the Palm Harbor school's physical education teacher and athletic director at the time. They began spending time outside of school and in Habegger's home, where the boy said Habegger touched him, according to records.

Habegger was arrested in Indiana on July 2. He was booked into the Pinellas County jail on Monday, where he remained Thursday in lieu of $150,000 bail.