Florida Teacher Told Student She’d Leave Hubby for Him: Cops

- Okay, I'm gonna do it on you. - No, I accept tissues. - Newly released body cam video of a teacher busted for allegedly having sex with an underage student multiple times in her classroom. - Can you just show us where in the room the sexual activity took place? - And let me tell you, this body cam video is shocking because this teacher did not hold back when explaining the deputies what she allegedly did and boy, does she go into detail? - We're on the case presented by law and crime. I'm Chris Stewart. (upbeat music) - Guys, not only is this body cam video shocking because we are talking about a teacher who's accused of allegedly having sex with an underage student on school property specifically in her classroom. But court records also say that this teacher told the boy that she would leave her husband for him when he turned 18 years old. She is 37. Now the teacher you see here being padded down in a high school hallway as Heather, Mashburn, Smith. And she taught English at Port Charlotte High School in Florida. Deputies recalled to the school because a message came in on an app and it's an app that allows parents to communicate with school district staff and the message was allegedly about Mashburn having sex with a student. This is video of deputies entering a classroom with Mashburn. Now deputies also spoke with the alleged victim in this case he's 17 years old and the boy told them that Mashburn had sex with him twice in her classroom. Allegedly, once on a desk and once on a chair. The student said this relationship became sexual after he was allegedly put on a group chat on Snapchat with Mashburn and a friend. He reportedly said that he told Heather that he thought she was pretty. It reads quote, "Heather than asked to come meet her in her classroom to talk about the messages." He said he complemented her during the conversation and they spoke about the group texts. Now deputies asked Mashburn what happened? And they read her her Miranda rights and she tells them and she shows them a lot. - Can you just show us where in the room does sexual activity to place? - Yeah. - Without trying not to clutch anything, I realize it's been a while like 90s or so. I had felt part of my back here, but. These desks might have just been harder this way. But I feel like it was these desks. - Okay. - And just for the record, after the sexual activity occurred, you had wiped these desks down with chlorox. - Just this one. - And like the floor area, but I don't know why everything seems so different. It seemed like it was like more here that it happened, or not here. So I think everything shifted a little bit. Things, everything slides a lot during the day because the kids don't push their chairs out. They push their chairs out, the desks get moved around a lot. But I think these might have just been harder. 'Cause I don't, originally I was thinking it was those, but that doesn't make sense to me. So I'm pretty sure I was these ones. - And is this the one where he had just the (beep) or is this, okay. And then where else, where was the other actual. - Like right here in the chair. - What in the chair? - Oh, like, would it be a student chair? - Yeah, it was just a random chair. - Okay, so that's not this one that's pointing right there closely to the mayor. - Okay. - And which, so I know you said you were on top of him, did you, were you facing him or facing away? - I was facing him. - Facing him and were you facing just that kind of side wall? - I was facing this way and he was facing that way. The chair was facing that way. - Okay. - So it was like saying, I got caught in the room. - Okay. And then regarding the digital (beep) and then you can, (beep) where would that have happened? - Everything happened right here. - It's kind of right in this area. - Okay. - Were these desks always in low? - Like, leaning on or. - I mean, I guess you can say sometimes we lean on them, yeah. But, I mean, as far as the inner course goes, that was, this was the desk we laid back on. - And was the desk, I assume oriented, the same way, although maybe slid over there. - Okay, and did you lay on it from the front, this way and from the back, this way and from the side. - This way. - Okay, okay. And he would have stood here. - Okay. - During the actual sex part. - So I'm gonna pause this video right here. You have Mashburn, who is explaining to deputies where alleged sexual abuse happened in her classroom. And she is being very specific about it. She is going into very, very explicit detail. And frankly, it's too graphic to talk about right here. So we're gonna pick this video up right after she finishes that description. - And where were you waiting for? Whenever you guys were coordinated to be in the class after our planning period or after it is football. - It's football. - It's just like that. - Okay, when he would come from football, there was like once or twice where I put a book in the door, so that he could just come in. But all the other times he had to knock and I had to let him in. So I'd have to walk over to the door to let him in. And it's not like I let him in. You just like went right to it or anything. Like. - Oh, you guys? - Would hug and talk. - Kissing and all of that. - Like I said, it was not going to meditate at sex. - Okay, similar to what we did with that interview, the second interview after you written the letters and stuff, I'm just gonna ask you a couple of questions. First of all, did we promise you anything? No. Are you here giving this information of your own free will? - Yes. - Okay, did we make any threats of courage? (triumphant music) And you understand that you're still under oath and everything that you told us is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, is that truth? - Yes. - Okay. And you've already been advised if your rights is that truth? - Yes. - Okay, all right. And just final recap, everything that you told us in here has been information that you freely and voluntarily gave understanding your rights. - Yes. - Okay, all right. All right, cool, that's it. All right, we're gonna go ahead and head back so you can keep people away. We're gonna have a right to start. Why do you still do some writing with me and my thoughts after sometimes when things would happen? And I might have like a piece of writing and a folder on my desk. I love to get that 'cause I don't want like a student or a teacher or something coming across. - Where would it be? - Well, I mean, I mean, I don't touch it at all. I've been in the folder here, like right here. - Is this dark colored folder? - Yeah. - Okay. And then you think that has. - There's nothing like graphic in it, but it's just like thoughts that I would write as if I were writing to him. - Okay. - To. - But I never. - To (beep) - But I would never like give it to me. Like, I really just want to throw it in the trash. It's not anything that. - What were you thinking? - What's in it now? - I just don't know. - It's not like a diagnosis. - It's hers, you know. - Do you want to, in our presence, do you want to open that folder and make sure it's what you're talking about? - Yeah. - Adam? - I just stuck it in here, and I thought it would be. - Are these pages, the ones that we're talking about? - These are in there. - Yeah. - Just stuff that I wrote. I write it in my spare time, so it's not. - You're in English, you do? - Yeah, so. Am I allowed to keep these or dispose of them or. - Um, may I? - Yeah. - It's not something I, I need to say, I don't think I'll ever give them to you. - So they were to him just like already while you're feeling like? - Not, it was to him, but not to him. - I get it like a diary. - Yes. - Yeah, okay. So. We are not just going to leave these here, but I can't just let you take them away, okay? They're going to fall under the search warrant, okay? So for now, we're just going to leave them right here, but I assure you we're not just going to leave them for students or staff members to find, okay? We'll take them, we'll seize them and that'll be part of it, okay? Is there anything else that you can think of that's in here that might be something that you don't want other people stumbling across? There were no toys or anything that were used during the whole time and nothing like that, okay? Just something I figured I asked for like a, you never know, okay? I mean, my desk is full of trash, but I'm not worried about trash, just something that you know, we don't want. I mean, full of papers and just like, I'm sure there's confidential stuff in there, but nothing about them. There's definitely confidential stuff, but when you say confidential stuff, like student-related things and anything that would be criminal on me. No, just like stuff that we're not supposed to let other students see, like you know? Okay, but that stuff is school administration for handle. Yeah, and then just personal items and things. Okay, all right. Well, we're not. So we're going to step out here at this point, and then step up through the hallway, please. We're not going to be taking anything out of here other than not. It's not the time for our actual stuff, I don't know why it's working. Actually, I'll put on a mic, I just want to hear a point. And I'll just start talking, but, so you're something. What's. Oh, yeah, yeah. Okay, yeah, yeah. Yeah, she told us. Yeah, I know, that's why I was like. So it appears Mashburn is being very forthcoming with officers. Even with messages, she says that she deleted from her computer. The next part of the body cam that we're going to show you here is when she first entered the classroom and she opens up her email, she puts up on a projector screen, messages, she says she deleted from her computer, but she's showing them to deputies, and she is passing them along to them to help in their investigation. Okay, that's the IP. All right, so I see it's from high, and the email address assigned to it is the message states, "I know you". It's bro, bro. And this came through Parent Square, sent via a form on our Port Charlotte High School website. Parent Square is not responsible for contents and the students, no liability for the message. And you had put this message in trash, correct? Yes. Okay, are you willing to forward this message to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office? Yes. Okay. Yeah, my mom. Yeah. Here, I have a card. It's easier to type. And two last names. So we'll just leave it at the surface. Now I just found out I have a new computer, too. Correct. Telephone frame. Not the specific thing, but if I'm in case I'm on tubes. Don't look right. Yep, look at that. So thank you. And that was the only thing you need to show us. Yeah, let me just make sure I don't got anything else weird. I don't think there's another one. All right, this one is cute. So this is from phone one message. Why is brought submitted from IP address 172.56.18.98 comma 10.0.10.59. sent through the same application form on the Port Charlotte. So can you forward that as well? to the same address. Hopefully it's going to turn up the type all of it. There you put it in between the F and L file. Yeah. Good. Yeah. Okay. If you would. I should check my, um, I guess like a little clutter, but I don't think. Yeah, there's nothing weird here. If you would just go out a lot. Yeah, can I just log out of it? Is that okay? Whatever you had. How are you? The alleged victim in this case told deputies that he felt like having a sexual relationship with Mashburn was wrong. He said that things became sexual with the teacher for roughly four to five weeks. Mashburn allegedly told deputies that the victim made her feel special and quote, desired. Now the victim though, he was the one who tried to break things off with her. Quote, Heather told him that she was not in a good marriage and that she wanted to leave her husband and be with him. We're talking about the alleged victim. Once he turned 18, the victim also said that Heather, a 37 year old married English teacher, was quote, angry that he wanted to end their relationship. Now this is the moment that deputies put her in handcuffs. Okay, here we have Mr. Brown, for me. [ Inaudible ] He's still talking? Okay. [ Inaudible ] Yeah, I have a job. One second. Sorry. [ Inaudible ] [ Inaudible ] Who's primary on the 15th? Those two? [ Inaudible ] For name, this will be his 15th. Sorry? Yeah? Let's roll it down. [ Inaudible ] [ Inaudible ] Cut through the building or around? Cut through the building or around? I guess we'll go around. Yeah, I can do that. Hey, if you want to hang tight in here, I'll put my car through this gate. Because there's football practice and stuff going on. [ Inaudible ] [ Inaudible ] [ Inaudible ] (clipper clanking) (upbeat music) - The one channel one. (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (banging) (banging) (banging) (banging) (banging) (banging) - This is what you're wearing. - Got your seat belts on there too, would you? - Yep. (banging) (banging) (banging) (banging) (banging) (banging) - Is that okay? (banging) (banging) - Can't watch you get moving, you'll get a little bit more air back here too. (banging) (banging) (banging) (banging) - Heather Mashburn Smith was charged with unlawful activity with certain minors. The charge was enhanced to a first degree felony because of her position as a teacher. She was arrested on April 29th of this year. Now in response to her arrest, the Charlotte County Public Schools Superintendent said this. Quote, "The actions of this individual are a direct violation of the duty every educator owes to students and families. We will not tolerate anything that compromises student safety. This individual has been placed on administrative leave as we work closely with law enforcement and pursue full accountability. Our focus remains on protecting our students and responding decisively. And then you have the Charlotte County Sheriff who added this. Quote, "What this woman has done is not just unlawful, it is damaging to the students and staff around her." Teachers are meant to be people that students can trust and seek out for mentorship, guidance, and encouragement. This individual took advantage of that vulnerability and prayed on one of the people she was entrusted to protect. We take that very seriously in Charlotte County and I applaud my major crimes detectives for their quick and appropriate actions to intervene, investigate, and make an arrest. Now at the time of this recording, Ashburn Smith, according to online court records, is still locked up in the Charlotte County jail. She does have a case management hearing scheduled for August 25th. That will do it for this episode of On the Case, presented by Law and Crime. Subscribe to us on YouTube and Spotify. We're also streaming on Peacock. I'm Chris Stewart. We'll see you next time. (upbeat music)