Tarpon Springs teacher sent sexually explicit video to 15-year-old, police say

A Tarpon Springs Middle School teacher was arrested and has resigned after being accused of sending a sexually explicit video to a 15-year-old former student, police say.

Stephan Badertscher, 31, was communicating with the former student over social media on May 5, according to the Tarpon Spring Police Department. The student received a video from the teacher that showed the adult engaged in an explicit act, police say.

The student immediately told police and an investigation was launched.

Badertscher has since resigned his position at the school, according to police. He turned himself in to the Pinellas County jail on Friday.

He was arrested on a felony charge of transmission of harmful material to a minor, police said. Records show he was freed later Friday after posting $5,000 bail.

Tarpon Springs police ask anyone with information about this case, or who knows of other incidents involving the former teacher, to contact Detective Lara Scarpati at 727-938-2849.