FL Substitute Teacher Accused Of AirDropping Content With Nudity, Bestiality To Students

SEFFNER, FL — A substitute teacher was arrested Tuesday for sharing and showing several sexual images to students while working at Jennings Middle School last year, according to a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office news release.

Chase Rush, 22, was charged with nine counts of filming, distributing or possessing images or videos of sexual activity with an animal; eight counts of selling or distributing obscene material to a minor; four counts of transmission of harmful material to a minor; and one count of unlawful use of two-way communications devices.

While in the classroom on Dec. 9, Rush told his seventh-grade students to “turn on” their AirDrop, an Apple device feature that lets people wirelessly send files to others nearby, the sheriff’s office said.

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He sent four students with iPhones content that included nudity and bestiality. Seven other students also gathered around Rush, who showed them the same explicit material, investigators said.

During an interview with detectives, Rush admitted to showing the same content to his 12-year-old relative.

“It’s revolting to think that someone trusted to educate and guide our children could act in such a predatory and disgraceful manner,” Sheriff Chad Chronister said. “This man used his role as a teacher to prey on kids. He had every opportunity to be a positive influence; instead, he chose to become a predator.”

Rush was employed by Kelly Education and is not an employee of Hillsborough County Public Schools.

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