Hillsborough Charter School teacher and security guard arrested

A teacher at a Hillsborough County charter school was arrested on charges that he had inappropriate contact with a student, while a school security officer was also arrested on charges of interfering in the investigation, the Hillsborough Sheriff’s Office reported County on Tuesday.

Johnathan Sheppard, 38, a teacher at Henderson Hammock Charter School, 10322 Henderson Road, is accused of inappropriately touching and texting a student.

He faces charges of lewd or lascivious harassment by a person in authority and of initiating a romantic relationship with a student by a person in authority.

During the investigation into Sheppard, investigators learned that Theresa Cruz, 48, a Hillsborough County school security officer assigned to Henderson Hammock, had interfered with the school’s initial investigation “by providing details to Sheppard,” according to a press release from the sheriff’s office.

She faces charges of obstruction and tampering with a witness.

A school district spokesman said Cruz was suspended without pay pending termination. Henderson Hammock did not return a call asking about Sheppard’s employment status.