GRIMY TIMES EXCLUSIVE: Matthew Christopher Yates, a former eighth-grade teacher at Veritas Classical School in St. Augustine, Florida, has pleaded guilty to attempting to entice a 14-year-old girl into producing a sexual abuse video.
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The 30-year-old Yates faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a lifetime of supervised release for his actions. His sentencing is set for December 18, 2025. He was arrested on March 11, 2022, after attempting to meet the girl for sex.
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According to court documents, Yates first contacted the girl online, posing as a student and asking her if she ever fantasized about a teacher. He later exchanged explicit messages and photos with her, eventually asking her to record their planned sexual activity.
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The FBI conducted an undercover operation in Jacksonville, where Yates was identified as “English teacher.” On March 11, agents arrested him at the prearranged location with several condoms and a cellphone. Yates later confessed his intent to have sex with the girl he had met online.
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This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation. It was investigated by the FBI in Jacksonville and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney D. Rodney Brown.
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For more information on Project Safe Childhood, visit www.justice.gov/psc.
RELATED: Teacher Yates Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Enticement Attempt
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Key Facts
- State: Florida
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption
- Source: Official Source ↗
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