GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A former band instructor at Green Bay West High School has been charged with allegedly sending sexually explicit text messages to a student.
David Viste, 37, was charged with two felony counts of child enticement and one felony count of stalking.
The communication took place between August of last year through April of this year, according to Lt. Jeff Brester of the Green Bay Police Department.
He says Viste sent nearly 1,000 text messages to the student.
“Trying to have the victim come over during different events when alcohol was being served.”
According to the criminal complaint, those text messages included statements such as You look good, I have a crush on you, and I can’t wait to see you next hour.”
Throughout time, Brester says the messages became more graphic.
“Comments were sexual in nature, different sexual acts, requested different sexual acts.”
Authorities say the teen told Viste he was not interested.
Brewster said the boy told police that he felt like he was being stalked.
“Through the interviews, our victim felt that way with the teacher. He was coming into his classroom, and talking to him outside the classroom.”
Brester said it got bad enough that the boy reported it, and that may have stopped anything else from taking place.
“This one we’re thankful. We stopped it before it did come into an actual sexual assault, these were text messages.”
Brester says there’s still investigating the possibility, that Viste may have had inappropriate communications with other underage students.
Viste has already posted a $10,000 signature bond.
If convicted of all three felony charges, he could be facing 50 years in prison.
Lori Blakeslee, the director of communications for Green Bay Area Public School District, says Viste has been with the district since 2007.
Blakeslee says he was placed on administrative leave on May 2nd after West High School’s principal became aware the teacher may be responsible for “inappropriate conduct” on May 1st.
The teacher then resigned on May 3rd.