A Central Florida high school teacher has been arrested on felony accusations that she housed a homeless student, supplied him alcohol until he was severely intoxicated and then sexually abused him, while also allegedly providing drugs and alcohol to other young people connected to the school, authorities said.
Mackenzie Lane McLean, 49, a teacher at Crooms Academy of Information Technology in Sanford, was booked into the Seminole County Jail after deputies served an arrest warrant this week, officials said. She faces two felony counts of sexual offense by an authority figure and one felony count related to distributing a controlled substance. The allegations center on an 18-year-old student who told investigators he relied on McLean for food and a place to live and felt trapped when he said her behavior turned abusive.
According to investigators, the case began with reports that McLean had been allowing students and recent students to spend time at her home in Lake Mary, a community north of Orlando. In interviews summarized in law enforcement documents, a male student told deputies he moved into McLean’s home in March 2024 after family problems left him without stable housing. He said he was enrolled at Crooms Academy and in McLean’s class when she offered him a place to stay. The student told investigators he initially saw her as a supportive adult and a “mother figure,” but said the relationship changed after he became dependent on her for shelter and meals.
The student described multiple incidents that investigators said fit a pattern of grooming and coercion. In accounts of the student’s statements, McLean allegedly bought alcohol and provided it to him at her home, and the student said she continued giving him alcohol until he became intoxicated enough that he could not make clear decisions. He told investigators the alleged sexual abuse happened repeatedly, with different media reports describing a range from several incidents over a couple of months to a longer stretch of behavior across much of 2024. Authorities have not released exact dates for each alleged incident, and they have not disclosed the student’s name because of privacy concerns.
Investigators said the student also described emotional control and intimidation that made it harder for him to leave. In summaries of the affidavit, the student said McLean would become angry and escalate conflicts, sometimes yelling for long periods, and he believed he had to comply with what she wanted to avoid being kicked out. He told deputies he feared losing his housing if he refused her demands or reported her. The student said he eventually moved out of McLean’s home late in 2024, and investigators said the circumstances around that move became part of the inquiry, including claims that McLean reacted with volatility when the arrangement ended.
The criminal charges focus on McLean’s role as an authority figure connected to the school, a status prosecutors typically argue creates a power imbalance even when a student is 18. Authorities have not said whether the student remained enrolled at Crooms Academy for the entire period described in the affidavits, but investigators said the relationship began while he was a student in her class. Deputies have not detailed whether any alleged conduct occurred on school grounds, and the public allegations described so far center on events at McLean’s home and in private settings away from campus.
In addition to the sexual offense counts, investigators accused McLean of distributing a controlled substance after a claim that she provided Adderall, a prescription stimulant, to a person connected to the student. Authorities have not publicly described how the medication was obtained, whether it belonged to McLean or someone else, or whether it was given to a minor. Investigators have said they are examining broader accusations that McLean provided marijuana edibles, alcohol, vaping products and other substances to young people who were in her circle, including current or former students. Those claims have not yet resulted in publicly announced additional criminal counts, but deputies said the investigation included more than one student’s account.
One former student told investigators that gatherings at McLean’s home involved heavy drinking and smoking, and that some teens would pass out, according to law enforcement summaries reported by local outlets. Authorities have not publicly identified that student, and they have not said whether the person was under 18 during any alleged incidents. Investigators also have not said whether they recovered physical evidence such as alcohol containers, drugs or digital communications that would corroborate the accounts. In cases involving alleged misconduct by a teacher, detectives often review messages, social media contacts, photos, and witness statements to establish timelines and relationships, but officials have not described their evidence in detail.
Seminole County Public Schools confirmed McLean has been removed from her duties and placed on administrative leave after her arrest. District officials said they were cooperating with law enforcement and emphasized student safety. The district has not said whether administrators were aware of the living arrangement in 2024, whether any staff member reported concerns at the time, or whether policies were violated before the arrest. School systems often have procedures for identifying and assisting students who lack stable housing, including counseling and referrals, but the district has not explained what support the student received outside McLean’s involvement.
Authorities also have not disclosed how the investigation began, including whether it was triggered by a report from the student, a parent, another student, or a school employee. Investigators have not publicly said whether they executed search warrants, seized phones or computers, or interviewed McLean’s family members. Reports about the case said McLean has worked in the school district for decades, and investigators described her as a longtime educator at Crooms Academy. School officials have not detailed her employment history beyond confirming her status as a teacher and noting the administrative leave.
McLean’s custody status has been the subject of conflicting early reports as the case moved through initial court proceedings. Local coverage said a judge initially ordered that she be held without bond. Other reports said the court later set a $35,000 bond with conditions, including restrictions on contact with students and a requirement that she be monitored if released. Court schedules listed her next appearance as March 31, when the case is expected to proceed through early hearings and motions that can shape what evidence becomes public. It was not immediately clear whether McLean has entered a plea or retained an attorney who has spoken publicly on her behalf.
The allegations have sparked public anger in part because the student described himself as homeless and dependent on the accused adult. Investigators said the student told deputies he endured behavior he did not want because he believed he had no safe alternative for shelter and food. Authorities have not said where the student is living now, whether he is receiving counseling or other services, or whether any victim advocates have been assigned. Officials also have not released details about whether the student’s housing status was known to the school, whether a formal homelessness liaison was involved, or whether the family situation that led to homelessness had been reported earlier.
The case arrives amid broader national scrutiny of boundary violations between school employees and students, particularly when students face instability. While such cases vary widely, investigators often focus on the power dynamics created by grades, access to resources and the authority of adults in schools. In McLean’s case, detectives have said the core accusation is that she used access to alcohol and housing to exploit a vulnerable student. The allegation that she supplied intoxicants is also central because it can affect consent, memory and the ability to leave an unsafe situation.
Investigators have not said whether they expect more charges, but officials indicated the inquiry remains active as they review additional statements and potential evidence. Authorities have not publicly described whether any other alleged victims were minors, whether any conduct occurred while students were in school-sponsored activities, or whether any other adults may have been aware of gatherings at McLean’s home. Law enforcement agencies sometimes ask the public to come forward in cases that may involve multiple witnesses, but no broad public call for tips had been announced in the initial statements described in local reporting.
For now, the public record includes only the felony counts tied to the authority-figure allegations and the drug distribution accusation. Prosecutors will likely need to show how McLean’s role at the school created authority over the student and how the alleged conduct fits Florida law. Defense attorneys, if they challenge the allegations, may contest the credibility of witnesses, the interpretation of communications, or the timeline of the student’s enrollment and living arrangement. Those disputes typically unfold through motions, hearings and, if the case is not resolved by plea agreement, a trial.
McLean remained in custody as the case moved toward the next scheduled court date. Investigators and school officials have not released further details about the student’s account or the evidence gathered so far, and key questions remain unanswered, including how the arrangement began, who knew about it, and whether additional students will be included in the criminal investigation.
Author note: Last updated February 20, 2026.