A Florida middle school teacher has been arrested on felony charges after investigators said he exchanged inappropriate messages with a former teenage student and admitted to communicating inappropriately since 2023.
Christian Schneider, 31, a teacher at Memorial Middle School in Hillsborough County, was arrested Friday following an investigation by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. Detectives opened a criminal investigation into Schneider on July 28, and learned he had been sending inappropriate messages to a former student from Franklin Middle School.
Schneider told deputies that the inappropriate communication with the student began in 2023. The exact age of the student and further details about the nature of the messages have not been disclosed by authorities.
Schneider faces three felony charges: two counts of solicitation or possession of child sexual abuse material, both second-degree felonies, and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communications device, a third-degree felony. The booking records list July 3 as the offense date for each charge.
He was arrested shortly after noon Friday and booked into the Hillsborough County jail. Each charge carried a $2,500 surety bond, totaling $7,500. Schneider was released on bond early Saturday morning, according to jail records.
"Teachers hold a position of trust that comes with enormous responsibility," Sheriff Chad Chronister said in a statement. "When that trust is exploited, it’s not just a crime, it’s a violation of everything our schools are supposed to stand for. Detectives will continue investigating these cases aggressively, and anyone who abuses their position with a child will be held accountable."
The sheriff's office stated that the investigation is ongoing and additional information will be released as it becomes available. The Hillsborough County school district was contacted for information regarding Schneider’s employment status.