LAKE WALES, Fla. — A former Substitute teacher with a criminal history was arrested for allegedly showing sexually explicit photographs to elementary students.
According to the Lake Wales Police Department (LWPD), school administrators at Park Avenue Private School contacted police on Nov. 7. They told them that Gayle Wessel, 60, had allegedly shown sexually explicit photographs to her nine and 10-year-old elementary students.
Wessell was a substitute teacher at the school.
Through investigation, LWPD said they found hundreds of explicit images and videos on her phone, many of which Wessell was in.
LWPD interviewed several students who said Wessel showed them the images on her phone.
When detectives went to her home on Nov. 8. they asked if they could download call logs and pictures from her phone. LWPD said that while they were at her home, Wessel attempted to delete the inappropriate photos from her phone, but she did not delete her recently deleted folder, and police were able to recover the photos.
LWPD said they were able to locate Wessel on Jan. 7 at a local area motel, and she admitted to showing the students the inappropriate material.
She was arrested on six counts of showing obscene material to minors.
LWPD said that Wessell had a criminal history and had been charged previously with trespassing, battery, resisting arrest, and criminal mischief.
Wessel was fired from the school when the investigation started in November.
LWPD said they do not believe there are more victims at Park Avenue Private School, but police are still looking for additional information in this case. Anyone with information is urged to contact Detective Raines at the Lake Wales Police Department at 863-678-4223.
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