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Berkeley Preparatory School teacher Robert Yarnell left his job during an FBI investigation of his e-mails with a student.
By MELANIE AVE, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 28, 2002
TAMPA -- After 17 years as a teacher at Berkeley Preparatory School, Robert Yarnell left this spring because of an FBI investigation into allegations of improper e-mail contact with a student.
Since then, the U.S. Attorney's Office has decided against any criminal charges against the veteran history teacher.
"We were informed the government was not going to be filing charges," said one of Yarnell's attorneys, Ron Cacciatore. "They did not give any reasons, and I didn't ask for any."
U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman Steve Cole declined to comment, saying his office doesn't typically talk about cases.
Berkeley officials would say little about the decision against prosecuting Yarnell.
"We wish Bob luck in his future endeavors," said Berkeley spokeswoman Karen Humphrey.
Yarnell, 49, either resigned or was fired from Berkeley as of April 1 after the FBI notified the school of its inquiry.
School officials said at the time that there was no evidence of improper physical contact between Yarnell and the student but said he "divulged privileged information to the student that could possibly compromise the academic integrity of the school." Officials would give no details.
Berkeley is a prestigious private preparatory school of 1,100 students in Town 'N Country.
Yarnell taught sixth-grade geography and seventh-grade U.S. history at Berkeley. He coached the middle school speech and soccer teams and girls varsity golf team. Before joining Berkeley in 1985, Yarnell taught at Hudson and Ridgewood high schools in New Port Richey.
Cacciatore said that although he feels his client has been cleared of the allegations, Yarnell has no interest in teaching again.
"Mr. Yarnell has gotten on with his life," he said. "He's pursuing other interests."
-- David Karp contributed to this report. Melanie Ave can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or melanie@sptimes.com.