PALMETTO, Fla. — A Manatee County teacher was arrested and charged with unlawful sexual activity with a minor.
34-year-old Steven Joseph Kempa was a teacher at Manatee School for the Arts in Palmetto when the investigation began on Jan. 4.
The victim in the case is a 16-year-old girl who is not a student at the school. Detectives believe Kempa engaged in sexual activity with the girl sometime on Dec. 31 and/or Jan. 1.
"Serious, serious breach of responsibilities," said school principal Dr. Bill Jones.
Jones tells ABC Action News, Kempa taught sixth grade world history for three years at the Palmetto charter school. School officials issued a letter this week warning parents about the ongoing investigation.
“We have no reports on file, we have not had any complaints from any teachers, students or parents about anything like this with him," said Jones. “We’re doing everything we can to ensure that there’s nothing hiding out there."
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to call Manatee County Sheriff's Office at 941-747-3011, ext. 1910.
