He offered a student $500 to have sex with him, but said it was a ‘joke.’ The cops aren’t laughing

A now former school employee is facing charges after he admitted to offering a student $500 to have sex with him, but said it was meant as a joke, according to reports.

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office announced William D. Henson, 21, was arrested Wednesday and charged with sexual battery custodial authority. Deputies said Henson was working at Cypress Creek High School at the time.

He oversaw and online course at the school as an administrative assistant when he asked a 16-year-old female student to stay and help clean the classroom Wednesday, WFLA News Channel 8 reported, citing deputies.

When they were alone in the room, the student told officials Henson offered her $500 to have sex with him and she declined, according to WFLA.

She told deputies Henson then told her that he “should not have said that.”

Henson resigned after the incident, according to WFLA.

When deputies spoke to Henson about the incident, he admitted to offering the student money for sex, saying it was inappropriate but it was meant as a joke, WFLA reported.

Henson is being held in the Pasco County jail on a $5,000 bond, jail records show.

This story was originally published November 16, 2017 at 12:13 PM with the headline "He offered a student $500 to have sex with him, but said it was a ‘joke.’ The cops aren’t laughing."