Hinckley denies charges – school board moves to unpaid suspension

St Johns County School Superintendent Joseph Joyner recommended today that the school board place 26-year-old Virginia Hinckley on unpaid suspension from St. Augustine High School after she pled “not guilty” to charges that she had a sexual relationship with one of her teenaged students.

Historic City News learned from court documents that the 16-year-old student told authorities that he became “flirty” with Hinckley, his English teacher, days after school began and that he and others commented on how she was pretty and how he “tickled” her.

The arrest affidavit says that when the teen initially asked for Hinckley’s phone number, she said no; but, the following day, he asked again, and she agreed. The two began exchanging text messages, including nude photos, according to the student. He said Hinckley sent him photos of her breasts and other body parts.

The student said that about August 18th, he and Hinckley had unprotected sex in the back seat of Hinckley’s vehicle at Treaty Park, on Wildwood Drive. Mobile phone records reveal that later that day, Hinckley sent the student a text message that said, “You better keep your mouth shut about this.”

Hinckley denied going to Treaty Park to have sex with the student. Her vehicle was seized and swabbed for DNA after deputies obtained a search warrant. Hinckley is charged with having unlawful sexual activity with a minor, which is a second-degree felony.