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Teacher Accused Of Sex With Student Has Much To Lose

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By TONY MARRERO

Hernando Today

Published: January 3, 2009

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Timothy Brightbill

BROOKSVILLE - The likely consequences of an alleged encounter with a 17-year-old student would radically change Timothy Brightbill's life.

The 42-year-old band director at Nature Coast Technical High School who was arrested Wednesday and reportedly confessed to sexual activity with a minor could lose more than his job.

Brightbill's teaching certificate and state retirement benefits also are on the line.

The victim's mother came home Wednesday to find Brightbill lying on top of the girl in her bedroom, according to a sheriff's office affidavit. Both were clad only in their underwear.

Brightbill admitted after his arrest to engaging in sex acts with the girl, the affidavit states. The girl also told deputies he performed sex acts on her at his home one day last November.

Brightbill is charged with two counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, a second degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a possible qualification as a sex offender. He was still in Hernando County Jail Friday in lieu of a $20,000 bond.

Because of his alleged confession, the case will almost certainly lead to Brightbill's firing, said Joe Vitalo, president of the Hernando Classroom Teachers Association.

Brightbill is a member of the association. The union represents teachers to ensure they are given due process by the school district.

If convicted, a judge could sentence Brightbill to having his teaching certificate revoked, but Vitalo said the state Department of Education will probably do it first. A judge revoked the certificate of Deborah Lafave, the Tampa teacher convicted of having sex with a 14-year-old student.

And because of a new law passed last year, a teacher convicted of a crime against a child could lose state retirement benefits. While Brightbill wasn't close to retirement age, that still could be a sizeable sum.

District offices were still closed for the holiday Friday, so Brightbill's personnel file was unavailable. However, he has worked for the Hernando school district for about three years and in Pinellas County for several years before that, long enough to be considered a "veteran" teacher, Vitalo said.

"Everything he's worked for" could be forfeited if found guilty, Vitalo said.

Brightbill - if he's out of jail - must report to principal Tizzy Schoelles on Monday, the first day back for teachers after the winter break, and officially notify her of his arrest.

He will be suspended while the school district does its own investigation, relying on information from the sheriff's office, Vitalo said. The superintendent will then make a recommendation to the school board on whether to fire Brightbill.

The state education department will also send an investigator to ensure the district follow the proper protocol. A DOE official did not return a call Friday.

Brightbill's first appearance in court is slated for Jan. 27.

School board member Pat Fagan said he got a message from Superintendent Wayne Alexander Thursday about a problem with the Nature Coast band director but hadn't talked to Alexander by Friday.

Fagan had seen news reports of the Brightbill's arrest but was hesitant to comment on the specifics of the case. He said he had never met Brightbill.

But, he said, "My first thought was he's going to ruin his whole life from his situation."

While there have been several cases in the Tampa Bay area recently of teachers having sexual contact with students, this is the first case of involving a Hernando County school employee in several years.

In 2003, Richard Ortiz, the girls track coach at Central High School, was charged with two misdemeanor counts of battery for inappropriately touching two team members. Ortiz was suspended without pay and left the district. His case was dismissed after he completed a pretrial intervention program, according to news reports.

A year later, Central High teacher Jim Jensen was arrested and charged with attempted sexual battery after admitting that he asked a 16-year-old student to perform oral sex on him. He later resigned.

Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandotoday.com.

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