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Shock Follows Preschool Teacher's Molestation Arrest

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By LISA A. DAVIS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 7, 2008

HUDSON - Owner Colleen Wolfe unlocked and opened the front door at Sugar Plum First Class Preschool tentatively yet eagerly Friday afternoon.

"C'mon in. I want to walk you around and show you that we're set up to prevent something like this from happening," she said.

"Something like this" was Thursday's arrest of preschool teacher Brian Michael Lane, 29, on allegations he fondled a 4-year-old boy during nap time.

Wolfe could barely make eye contact as she spoke. Her head hung heavily, making it clear she never expected "something like this" at her school.

She walked ahead, noting that the hallway is a circle with classrooms on each side. And each room has a large interior window, giving a clear view of the children - and the teachers - inside.

In one classroom, attentive children sat with their teacher around a table. Across the hall, teachers were nearby as infants rocked in swings. In another room, toddlers played.

Wolfe also pointed out security features, such as the alarm system and the cameras in each room and on the playground that send video directly to the office.

"I don't know what else we could've done," she said.

Wolfe said she notified parents about Lane's arrest and that, as of Friday, none had withdrawn their children from the school, which is licensed for 120 youngsters.

She shook her head and said, "It's been quite a day."

Lane, of 7751 Deerfoot Lane in New Port Richey, was being held on a charge of lewd and lascivious molestation Friday evening at the Land O' Lakes Jail, with bail set at $10,000.

Pasco sheriff's detectives say that from August through December, while Lane was employed at Sugar Plum, the boy said Lane inappropriately touched him on several occasions when no other teachers were in the room.

The allegations surfaced in May after school officials notified the boy's parents that he was found playing naked, with another child who was clothed, beneath a makeshift tent, authorities said.

Concerned, school officials told the parents he would have to attend counseling before being allowed to return. During counseling, the boy disclosed the abuse, said sheriff's office spokesman Doug Tobin.

The counselor called Florida's child abuse hot line, as required by law, and that sparked an investigation.

A report shows the boy told a Pasco detective that "Mr. Brian" had reached under a blanket and touched him while he was dressed.

"Mr. Brian told me not to tell anyone," the report quotes the boy as saying.

After being read his rights Thursday at sheriff's headquarters in New Port Richey, reports show Lane said he touched the boy once for "less than a minute" and didn't know why he did it.

At least one marked and one unmarked sheriff's cruiser sat outside the preschool, 7800 New York Ave., on Friday.

A native of Long Island, N.Y., Lane worked at Sugar Plum for nearly six years and, a couple of years before that, as a preschool teacher elsewhere. Details of that employment weren't available.

"Brian was a good teacher. I guess he just had a bad side to him we didn't know about," Wolfe said, declining further comment on the allegations.

Sheriff's officials aren't aware of other victims.

"Nobody else has come forward with abuse allegations," Tobin said.

WHOM TO CALL

To report child abuse in Florida, called the toll-free hot line at 1-800-962-2873. For a simply stated explanation of the reporting process, go to www.childprotection center.com/reporting.asp.

Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083 or ldavis@tampatrib.com.

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