Middle School Teacher Arrested on Felony Charges Following Inappropriate Communications With Former Student

Christian Schneider, a 31-year-old educator at Memorial Middle School, was arrested Friday on three felony counts stemming from an investigation into inappropriate messages exchanged with a former teenage student. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office initiated the criminal probe on July 28, discovering that Schneider had maintained improper communications with the minor since 2023.

Schneider was charged with two counts of solicitation or possession of child sexual abuse material, both classified as second-degree felonies, along with one count of unlawful use of a two-way communications device, a third-degree felony. According to booking records, all three offenses are dated July 3, with the teacher arrested shortly after noon Friday and released on $7,500 surety bond early Saturday morning.

The sheriff’s office confirmed that Schneider taught at Memorial Middle School while the victim was a former student at Franklin Middle School, though specific details regarding his tenure at Franklin or the student’s age were not disclosed. Investigators have not publicly revealed how they became aware of the communications or the nature of the messages involved.

Sheriff Chad Chronister issued a statement emphasizing the breach of trust inherent in such cases. “Teachers hold a position of trust that comes with enormous responsibility. When that trust is exploited, it’s not just a crime, it’s a violation of everything our schools are supposed to stand for,” Chronister said, noting that the investigation remains ongoing.