Florida Teacher's Creepy Pursuit: Gifts, "Soulmate" Texts to 16-Year-Old Student
Addam LeClair Fired from Tradition Prep After Romantic Grooming; Arrested in Florida's First Case Under New Teacher-Student Statute
August 28, 2025 - WPEC 12 News
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Addam Timothy LeClair, a 43-year-old former math teacher and soccer coach at Tradition Preparatory High School in Port St. Lucie, Florida, was arrested by the Martin County Sheriff's Office for allegedly soliciting a romantic relationship with his 16-year-old student. The interactions began in March 2025 when LeClair gave the victim his phone number on a sticky note, encouraging her to contact him if she needed to talk. Over months, he sent inappropriate text and Instagram messages commenting on her appearance, sharing details about his troubled marriage, and claiming they shared a "good connection." "I've never connected with anybody like I connected with you. You understand me like no one else ever has," LeClair wrote in one message.
The grooming escalated in May 2025 with LeClair bringing flowers to her school musical, attempting to give her Starbucks and Dunkin' gift cards, and slipping $100 into her phone case for prom. When the student tried to set boundaries, he guilt-tripped her by saying his feelings were hurt. Major Ruben Romero of the Martin County Sheriff's Office noted, "Some of the text messages did not necessarily cross over into the sexually explicit nature text message, but they were definitely romantic... He seemed to be pursuing her in a romantic way." Despite her blocking him in July, she unblocked the number at the school year's start to avoid awkwardness, prompting him to resume contact.
The victim reported LeClair to school administrators on August 18, 2025, leading to his immediate termination. "The student tried to terminate the communication, tried to warn the teacher that this made her feel uncomfortable. He continued to pursue it," Romero added. LeClair was booked into Martin County Jail on August 27 with a $50,000 bond, facing charges of an authority figure soliciting a romantic relationship with a student—a first for the sheriff's office under this Florida statute. The school principal emailed parents: "As you know, the safety and security of our students is always our number one priority... we will do everything within our power to maintain a learning environment where your students feel safe and protected." A recent graduate expressed shock: "He’s 40-something talking to an underage girl... No matter what you do, it’s not right." An MCSO spokesperson emphasized, "A teacher cannot date a student."
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