FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Authorities arrested a former teacher at St. Thomas Aquinas High School Thursday on three felony charges after he was accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student.
Andrew Fierle, 43, of Sunrise, is facing three counts of soliciting or engaging in a romantic relationship as an authority figure. He taught mathematics at the Catholic school, located at 2801 SW 12th St. in Fort Lauderdale.
According to an arrest affidavit, the victim, who was 17 years old at the time, told detectives she met Fierle in her junior year of high school and stated, “I had a huge crush on him, he’s a good-looking guy.” Police said the victim first spoke to Fierle on March 5, 2020.
The victim advised that when the COVID-19 pandemic began, she no longer had contact with Fierle since school was out, however, during her senior year of high school, the victim stated that she continued to speak with him in person when school was back in session.
The complaint states that even though she was not Fierle’s student, he “spent an excessive amount of time with (her), including before and after school, at (Fierle)’s weekend job and non-work hours.”
The victim described their relationship to detectives as a “casual friendship” stating she and Fierle would talk about life, music and movies, indicating they had a lot in common. “We connected, we bonded, and it was romantic,” according to the report.
At one point, Fierle allowed the student to stay at his home “roughly until midnight” without contacting her parents and with her phone off, the complaint states.
In an incident that occurred on campus sometime between March and May of 2021, the victim recalled wearing a jacket to school and being inside Fierle’s classroom when he unzipped her jacket and touched her breasts in a “lewd and lascivious manner,” according to the report.
The victim also claimed Fierle would kiss her while in his classroom.
The victim disclosed that she visited Fierle at his Sunrise home approximately 15 times, according to investigators.
She also told investigators that each time she went to Fierle’s home, they engaged in sexual conduct.
Police said the victim enjoyed Fierle’s company, however, when it came to sexual relations, “she was not into it.” She also stated that she was frightened by Fierle.
Fierle also “exchanged text messages with (the student) that were suggestive of people in a couple’s relationship,” the report states.
Fierle “was terminated in June 2021 after a student’s parents informed the school this teacher was tutoring their daughter at his home,” an Archdiocese of Miami spokesperson told Local 10 News on Thursday.
“This violated school policy as well as the Archdiocese of Miami Safe Environment policy,” the spokesperson said. “The teacher was reported to the Florida Department of Education and the student’s parents were encouraged to notify officials.”
The Department of Education investigated and decided on a “three-year suspension of his (Fierle) Florida educator’s certificate” and he agreed to be “placed on probation” for three years. “However, if applicable, the respondent may renew the certificate,” the complaint states.
Fierle was booked into the Broward Main Jail and remained there as of Friday afternoon.
Fierle appeared in a Broward County courtroom Friday morning, where a judge set his total bond at $75,000. Additionally, the judge mandated that he refrain from any form of contact with the victim and anyone under the age of 18, with the restriction including family members. He was also barred from accessing any school campus unless it served as a college campus with students 18 and over.
Detective Ali Adamson, an FLPD spokesperson, told Local 10 that detectives are not aware of any additional victims in this case. However, if an individual believes they may have been victimized by Fierle, they are encouraged to contact the FLPD at 954-828-5700.
State settlement: