Lauren Shreve Tilo, Assistant Principal in Florida, Charged With 'Sexting' Teen

(May 21) -- An assistant high school principal in Tampa, Fla., was jailed Thursday for allegedly sending a topless photo of herself to a 14-year-old boy.

Manatee County sheriff's deputies arrested Lauren Shreve Tilo, 30, early Thursday morning at her Tampa residence and charged her with transmission of material harmful to a minor. She was released from jail that afternoon on a $10,000 bond.

The alleged victim in the case does not attend Middleton High School, where Tilo works. Instead, he told police he met Tilo on the Internet in February while playing the role-playing game World of Warcraft. The two advised each other of their ages and became friends, he told police.

An undated booking photo shows Lauren Shreve Tilo, an assistant high school principal in Tampa, who was jailed for allegedly sending a topless photo of herself to a 14-year-old boy.

Manatee County Sheriff

Lauren Shreve Tilo, an assistant high school principal in Tampa, has been jailed for allegedly sending a topless photo of herself to a 14-year-old boy.

The friendship took a turn on March 7, when Tilo allegedly sent the teen a text message containing an "inappropriate photo" of herself in a "provocative and sexual pose," police say.

Police learned of the photo after the teen told school officials about it, and an investigation was launched Wednesday.

Tilo began teaching English at Middleton High School in 2003 and was appointed to the position of assistant principal last fall.

Hillsborough County School District spokeswoman Linda Cobbe told the St. Petersburg Times that Tilo has been barred from returning to work, pending the outcome of the investigation.

"In all likelihood, she will be suspended with pay, and if she remains charged, then the school board will suspend her without pay," Cobbe said.

The Manatee and Hillsborough County sheriff's offices are now trying to determine whether Tilo may have had inappropriate contact with other students. Anyone with information is asked to call authorities at 941-747-3011.