Former Bradenton private school teacher charged with having sex with student back in jail
The former Bradenton private school teacher charged with having sex with one of her students is back in jail facing more serious charges.
The allegations against Kassandra Moore were first brought to the attention of staff at the Broach School, 2615 26th St. W., Bradenton on April 10. According to Bradenton police, the 15-year-old boy had told another student at the school that he was having sex with Moore and shared screen shots of their direct messages on Instagram that included explicit photos Moore had sent him. The other boy reported it to staff and police were called to the school.
Moore, 31, was first arrested at her Bradenton apartment on June 24, and charged with four counts of lewd and lascivious molestation and one count of transmission of harmful material to a minor. She was released from the Manatee County jail later that day after posting bonds totaling $31,500.
On Monday, the state attorney’s office filed formal charges in the case against Moore, increasing the severity of the charges. Moore is now charged with four counts of sexual battery of a minor more than 12 years of age and less than 18 years of age by a person in custodial authority and one count of transmission of harmful material to a minor.
She was rearrested Tuesday and is now being held on bonds totaling $200,000 at the Manatee County jail.
Moore’s defense attorney James Fowler argued for bonds to be set lower than the $200,000 the state attorney’s office recommended. But Assistant State Attorney Lauren Benson argued that $50,000 per count was appropriate “in a case like this for a defendant who preys on children that have been put in their custody.”
“She had been out on bond for eight days and has not presented any danger during that course of time, was not a flight risk,” Fowler said.
But Circuit Judge Lon Arend found the state’s recommendation on bond reasonable given the facts and circumstances, he said.
Moore, who also went by Kassandra Thomas since getting married in 2018 but never legally changed her name, was fired from Broach on April 12 following an internal review by the school of the allegations against her.
The investigation remains on-going and Moore could still face more charges. During Wednesday’s hearing, the prosecutor told the judge she was aware of additional evidence in the case.
Police have said they have DNA evidence from a condom, video surveillance footage of Moore and boy together and forensic evidence from both their cell phones in their case against Moore. The boy has been cooperating with police, as have another teacher at the school and a former student.
Anyone with any information on this case can call Bradenton Police Detective Michael Page at 941-932-9314. Information can also be sent anonymously to Crime Stoppers to at 1-866-634-8477 (TIPS) or manateecrimestoppers.com. A reward of up to $3,000 might be available.
This story was originally published July 3, 2019 at 11:46 AM.
