A Santa Rosa County hospitality teacher and soccer coach faces felony charges for an alleged romantic relationship with a high school student after a police investigation. The charges include contributing to the delinquency of a minor, two counts of using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony, felony criminal solicitation in the second degree, and engaging in a romantic relationship with a student by a school authority. The investigation began after a CrimeStoppers tip was sent to the Gulf Breeze Police Department, according to officials. The case was then transferred to the Santa and Rosa County Sheriff’s Office.
Molly Mersereau, 36, was employed by the Santa Rosa County School District, where she taught hospitality and tourism and served as a coach for the girls’ soccer team. Her profile is no longer listed on the Gulf Breeze High School website, but sources told Fox News Digital that she was a hospitality and tourism academy teacher in the affluent Florida Panhandle city. While the case remains under investigation, the sheriff’s office emphasized its serious approach to allegations involving the welfare of minors and the integrity of public trust. Santa Rosa County District Schools did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
The case is part of a broader trend of teacher-student relationship allegations, with similar incidents recently reported in South Carolina and other states. These cases often raise significant ethical and legal questions about boundaries and power dynamics in educational environments. Authorities are typically cautious in handling such cases to ensure justice for all parties involved while protecting the interests of minors.