Sex abuse suspect served as teacher

By CHRIS TISCH

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 6, 2001

LARGO -- A man arrested and charged with sexually battering a teenage girl was a substitute teacher at a Largo elementary school, School Board officials said Monday.

Todd Ashley Kite, 37, of 13665 126th Ave. N, substituted seven times at Anona Middle School since he was hired in August, said Pinellas schools spokesman Ron Stone.

He subbed for classes in grades one through five at the school, Stone said.

Kite was arrested Friday on a charge of sexual battery. He is accused of committing a sex act on a girl who is under the age of 16 against her will, arrest reports said.

The allegation of sexual abuse has nothing to do with Kite's job at the school, nor is it related to a day-care facility that is run by his wife, said Pinellas sheriff's Detective Matthew Miller, who investigated the case.

An arrest report indicated the victim knows Kite and was able to identify him as her abuser. The abuse is reported to have occurred on Dec. 5, according to an arrest affidavit.

Kite has no previous criminal record in Florida, according to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement database.

Both Stone and Miller said there have been no reports of any sexual abuse at the school.

Stone said the school will not use Kite as a substitute until school officials conduct their own investigation, which could result in Kite's removal from a list of substitutes.

Kite was released from the Pinellas County jail Saturday after posting $50,000 bail.

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