An Indiana school teacher is accused of sexual misconduct with a student and sending others photos of her sex toys and stripper pole.
Brittany Fortinberry, 31, is facing multiple counts including sexual misconduct with a minor, dissemination of matter harmful to minors and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
In August 2024, two high school students reported to staff that the Eminence High School math teacher allegedly sent them “inappropriate” Instagram messages and videos of her sex toys and a stripper pole in her Martinsville home, according to a police probable cause affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.
One of the teens, who was 18 at the time, told authorities that Fortinberry reached out to him on Instagram shortly after the first day of school began on Aug. 7.
He said the interactions began as “general conversation” before Fortinberry allegedly got “a little more personal.”
“ … She told him about her being a stripper, her exclusive content on her websites, and about her past,” while sending about six revealing photos, the affidavit states. The teen described the alleged interactions to authorities as “bizarre,” per the affidavit, stating that students should “be able to trust” their teachers.
The second minor, who was 17 at the time, told authorities he recalled his “buddy telling him about a comment that she made about her wanting to have sex with them, and dreaming about it,” per the affidavit. “ They alleged that the comment was made on social media.
Authorities began investigating a separate case on Dec. 10, 2024, after a woman showed up at the Morgan County Prosecutor’s Office alleging that her grandson “disclosed to her sexual acts that happened between him” and Fortinberry when he was 15 years old, per a second affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.
The teen told authorities that Fortinberry began sending him nude photos. He showed police a photo of himself in the shower at Fortinberry’s home that dates back to October 2023, and alleged he was “99% sure” they had intercourse.
The teen said “it was no different than a 30-year-old man and a 15-year-old girl,” per the affidavit and described the alleged encounter as “child molestation.” He said he came forward because he doesn’t want Fortinberry to allegedly “molest more kids.” He told authorities that some alleged victims want to tell stories, while others don’t want to speak about it at all.
The affidavit states that the allegation “is consistent” with the previous investigation “and was verified during a search warrant” executed at Fortinberry’s home.
When asked by the investigator how many other “kids” Fortinberry had sexual encounters with, the teen responded: “At least 5, maybe 10.”
Fortinberry resigned from the school on August 23, 2024, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan School District of Martinsville said, per FOX59.
Per the affidavit, when asked by police about the allegations against her, Fortinberry did not say she regretted her actions. Instead, she told the officer she “regrets the day that she lost weight” and “doesn’t think she would run into any of these issues if she was still 150 pounds heavier.”
A court hearing is scheduled for April 14. It’s unclear if Fortinberry has entered a plea or retained an attorney.
She could not be reached for comment.
