A Polk County teacher is out of a job and could end up in jail after police say he engaged in inappropriate behavior with one of his students.
This week Compass Middle Charter School fired 27-year-old Robert Walrath. This comes just two weeks after he was suspended for being involved in sexual harassment allegations involving a student.
The details of those allegations aren’t outlined in Walrath’s personnel file, but a report filed with the Bartow police department paints a vivid picture.
In the report a young female student accuses Walrath of communicating with her on the popular site KIK. The student told police many of the messages between the two were inappropriate and sexual in nature.
The girl also alleges that Walrath sent her pictures exposing his bare chest, and that he told her he had a sexual dream about her.
In the report the girl said Walrath would hug her when she came to class with his hand touching her butt. Telling her, “oops, my bad” when he touched her inappropriately.
Those allegations are why Bartow police say Walrath should be formally charged for battery and transmission of harmful material to a minor.
Walrath has not been arrested for the allegations. In the report he admitted to some of the allegations but denied others. Police said the state attorney has to review the case to see if and when he will be charged.
In the mean time he’s out of a job and declined our request for an interview.
This isn’t Walrath’s first time getting in trouble with school officials. According to his personnel file, in 2009 he disciplined a fourth grader by humiliating him-telling kids not to be like that student because he might end up in jail.