An 83-year-old substitute teacher in Dunnellon, Florida, named Wolfgang Sprenger has been arrested on charges of lewd and lascivious molestation on a child less than 12, lewd and lascivious conduct, and contributing to the delinquency of a child. Deputies have accused Sprenger of using his position as a substitute teacher to gain access to children and inappropriately touch them.
Hernando Elementary School staff reported to the school resource deputy on Jan. 31 that Sprenger may have inappropriately touched some students, prompting the county school board to remove him from his job while authorities conducted their investigation.
According to the sheriff’s office, the detective on the case found multiple juvenile victims and several juveniles who had witnessed Sprenger’s inappropriate behavior. The children told investigators that Sprenger touched them inappropriately, and evidence corroborated their stories.
Sheriff Mike Prendergast said, “This case exposes how a predator can and will work themselves into a position of trust to gain access to children. Sprenger violated the trust of the children he was supposed to teach and the trust our community placed in him. A classroom is supposed to be a nurturing and safe environment, not a playground for a predator like Sprenger. I hope this arrest will be the starting point on a journey of healing for his victims.”
