Deputies said the alleged conduct happened twice on school grounds within the past month.
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL — A Port Charlotte High School teacher was arrested Wednesday after detectives said she had sexual intercourse with a 17-year-old student on campus twice within the past month.
Heather M. Mashburn-Smith, 37, was booked into the Charlotte County Jail after detectives with the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit investigated possible unlawful sexual activity at the high school. The case has led to a felony charge, an administrative leave decision by the school district and public statements from law enforcement and school leaders about student safety and trust.
Detectives were alerted April 29 to possible unlawful sexual activity at Port Charlotte High School, 18200 Cochran Boulevard, involving a teacher and a student, the sheriff’s office said. Investigators said they developed probable cause to arrest Mashburn-Smith after determining the alleged conduct occurred on school campus on two occasions within the last month. Sheriff Bill Prummell said the allegations were serious because of the role teachers hold in students’ lives. “Teachers are meant to be people that students can trust and seek out for mentorship, guidance, and encouragement,” Prummell said. He said his major crimes detectives acted quickly to intervene, investigate and make an arrest.
The sheriff’s office identified the student as 17 years old but did not release the student’s name. Authorities also did not release detailed locations on campus where the incidents allegedly occurred. Investigators said Mashburn-Smith gave detectives a full, post-Miranda confession. She was charged with unlawful activity with certain minors under Florida Statute 794.05. The sheriff’s office said the charge was enhanced to a first-degree felony because Mashburn-Smith was a teacher. The public release did not list an attorney for Mashburn-Smith, and court records available in the first public reports did not show whether she had entered a plea.
Charlotte County Public Schools placed Mashburn-Smith on administrative leave after the arrest. Superintendent Mark Vianello said the alleged conduct violated the duty educators owe to students and families. “We will not tolerate anything that compromises student safety,” Vianello said. He said the district was working with law enforcement and seeking accountability. Port Charlotte High School is part of the county school district and serves students in the coastal Southwest Florida community. The case drew added attention because the allegations involved conduct on campus, where students are under the care of school staff during the school day and school-related activities.
The arrest moved the case from an internal school concern to a criminal proceeding. The sheriff’s office said Mashburn-Smith was still being processed at the jail when its first public statement was released. Prosecutors would next review the case file, charging documents and evidence gathered by detectives. Any first court appearance, bond decision or future hearing would come through the Charlotte County court system. The sheriff’s office did not announce additional arrests or say whether investigators were looking at other possible victims. Officials also did not say whether the Florida Department of Education had begun any separate review of Mashburn-Smith’s teaching certificate.
Local reports showed parents reacting outside the school after the arrest became public. Some said the case shook their confidence in campus safety, while others focused on the need for clear boundaries between educators and students. The sheriff’s office framed the case as a breach of trust. Prummell said the alleged conduct was “not just unlawful” but damaging to students and staff around the teacher. Vianello said the district’s focus remained on protecting students and responding decisively. Officials did not release additional details about how the report first reached detectives or whether school staff, a parent, a student or another person made the initial report.
The investigation remained active after Mashburn-Smith’s arrest. As of Friday, May 1, no public update had announced a plea, trial date or final disciplinary action. The next milestone is expected through court filings or a further statement from law enforcement or the school district.
Author note: Last updated May 1, 2026.