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Band volunteer took pictures of gagged pre-teen, detectives say
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Published: February 8, 2012
Updated: 02/08/2012 11:10 pm
DUNEDIN - A band volunteer at Dunedin High School and Dunedin Middle School is facing three felony charges after Pinellas detectives say he dressed up a12-year-old girl, put a gag in her mouth and took pictures of her.
Steven Andrews, 29, took at least 100 photos of the girl over three or more photo sessions, investigators said.
"At least 20 or so of those were pornographic in nature and those were photographs of the 12-year-old girl wearing various outfits, including Hello Kitty outfits," said Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri.
The dress-up photo sessions, including Wonder Woman, Beauty and the Beast and Pirate outfits, began in August, according to deputies, with Andrews agreeing to pay the child $100 for each session. Investigators said when Andrews didn't pay up, the girl told her mother, who called authorities.
Andrews, of Dunedin, was a volunteer with the band at Dunedin Middle and High School, had previously volunteered at Berkley Prep in Tampa and had a paying job at "Children's Nest Day School" in Town 'N Country. Officials at all the schools say he passed all background checks.
Tripp Couch, the area director at the day school, learned of Andrews' arrest Wednesday morning.
"We were flabbergasted, I guess would be the best way to put it. I mean horrified and shocked and didn't like it at all. He immediately was discharged," Crouch said.
Andrews is being held in the Pinellas County Jail, charged with three counts of sexual performance of a child, a second degree felony. In court on Wednesday afternoon, he said he lived on a $987 monthly V.A. disability check. The judge appointed a public defender.
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