WAKULLA COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - A former music teacher at a Wakulla County charter school accused of sexually abusing a student is out on bond after being arrested.
Nicholas Hughes, 32, was arrested on Nov. 7 in Leon County.
The Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office said that they received a complaint on Sept. 27 alleging that Hughes had abused the victim.
Detectives determined that between the Fall of 2016 and Spring of 2017, Hughes sexually molested a victim under 16 years old on multiple occasions and took lewd photographs of them.
Afterward, investigators say he continued to talk to the victim via social media.
During the investigation, detectives developed probable cause to believe that Hughes used a particular camera, laptop and cellphone when communicating with the victim.
On Nov. 3, WCSO obtained arrest warrants for Hughes, charging him with two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation and two counts of lewd and lascivious battery.
A few days later, they arrested him at his Leon County home.
When they searched his home, they seized his camera, laptop and cellphone. The electronics were searched and evidence was found on the devices which verified statements made by the victim.
Hughes was booked into the Leon County Jail and subsequently transferred to the Wakulla County Jail.
Hughes was later released from jail after posting bonds totaling $40,000.
Deputies say Hughes was a music teacher at Coast Charter School in St. Marks He was terminated from the position in May 2017.
