A former teacher at a private St. Augustine school was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison this week for attempting to engage in sexual conduct with a minor, authorities said.
Christopher Yates, 31, of Hastings, was teaching eighth grade at Veritas Classical School at the time of his arrest in March 2022.
Prosecutors said Yates posted a message on social media in February 2022, that read, “Any women want to be rated by a teacher?”
An undercover FBI agent posing as a 14-year-old girl responded, and the two engaged in correspondence that became sexually explicit.
Yates sent graphic photos of himself at one point, officials said.
Authorities said he later arranged a meeting with the undercover agent, describing the sexual acts he intended to perform and requesting permission to record the encounter.
Believing he was meeting the minor for the first time, Yates went to a location in Jacksonville, where he was instead confronted by FBI agents and arrested.
He pleaded guilty in August 2025 and Judge Timothy J. Corrigan sentenced him to 15 years in prison.
In addition, Yates will serve 10 years of supervised release and must register as a sex offender.
