Polk County Christian school teacher accused of lewd behavior with student who wanted extra credit



Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd says a Christian school teacher who mentored students was arrested in Lakeland after being accused of lewd acts with two of them.

Derek Stribling was arrested at his home Thursday after authorities received reports of inappropriate sexual misconduct that occurred while he was working as a teacher at Crossroad Christian School.
Judd said an 18-year-old student claims Stribling asked for her phone number to check on her after she had an argument with her father and feared going to school. During their conversation, he informed her she had a “D” in his class, and offered her extra credit.

Once she gave him her number, Judd said Stribling started chatting with her on FaceTime and sending her suggestive text messages.

“And they started talking about sex. And it was filthy talk, nasty talk,” Judd said. “And as a result, he began to do all kinds of nasty things, and sent it to her through social media.”


On one occasion, during a video call, he allegedly exposed himself to the student and committed a lewd act. Another time, he asked her to meet him in a parking lot and perform a sex act, but she refused “because he is married,” Judd said.
Another student accused Stribling of sexual misconduct that happened while he was coaching basketball at the school in 2020.

Stribling allegedly had the teen meet him in the school gym’s equipment closet, and started kissing her and touching her inappropriately. He began communicating with her via Snapchat and texts, and called her twice on FaceTime and exposed himself, the student said.

The other student also claimed he asked her to perform a sex act, but she refused.
https://www.wfla.com/news/polk-count...-extra-credit/