‘Why can’t we get high together?’ Former Fortville teacher accused of grooming students with alcohol, THC vape pens

GREENFIELD, Ind. — A former Hancock County teacher was arrested Thursday morning after being accused of providing students alcohol and drugs.

The Greenfield Police Department announced Brock Wedgeworth, 45, of Fortville, is facing four felony counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor – a level 6 felony. Wedgeworth is accused of supplying former students with drugs and alcohol on multiple occasions while working as a teacher at Mt. Vernon School Corporation and New Palestine School Corporation.

According to court documents, police became aware of Wedgeworth on Jan. 14 when a GPD officer was dispatched to respond to a report indicating possible child exploitation. The juvenile victim told the officer that Wedgeworth had allegedly contacted them after resigning from Mt. Vernon Schools for having “inappropriate communication” with at least one student.

Mt. Vernon Middle School confirmed that Wedgeworth resigned in February of 2023.

Court docs show the officer was told that Wedgeworth was alleged to have provided the juvenile victim with a cell phone and that the victim had been receiving deliveries from DoorDash, shoes and various clothing items. Docs indicate that Wedgeworth had allegedly given the student a ride home but stopped at a corner street before reaching the student’s home address.

As part of the investigation, detectives reportedly obtained images showing communication between Wedgeworth and former students as well as photos of the gifts Wedgeworth is accused of sending to victims.

According to court documents, a woman familiar with the juvenile victim told investigators that she agreed to allow Wedgeworth to provide the victim with a new cell phone through his phone plan. According to court documents, the juvenile victim had been suffering from depression and wanted a new phone after claiming that other students had been making fun of them for using an old phone.

The victim had described Wedgeworth as someone who “was easy to talk to” and said they had been communicating during the victim’s bout of depression.

The same woman later disclosed to investigators that she learned that in January of 2023, Mt. Vernon School Corporation was made aware that Wedgeworth had allegedly engaged in “inappropriate” communications with a different juvenile victim. The Fortville Police Department led the investigation, which eventually ended with no criminal charges being filed.

Months after the FPD investigation ended, court documents said the same juvenile victim was contacted again by Wedgeworth and received a Cash App card that the victim had not signed up for.

The woman later found out that the victim had allegedly been out to dinner at Texas Roadhouse with Wedgeworth.

The victim continued buying clothes and shoes with an Apple Card that they were not approved or signed up for, court documents said.

When the woman questioned all of this activity, the juvenile victim allegedly admitted that Wedgeworth had been providing money for all of the purchases.

Between Feb. 8 and Feb. 13, investigators accessed communications between Wedgeworth and the victim via social media websites after search warrants were granted for iCloud and Google searches, in addition to data from the cell phones of each individual.

While searching Wedgeworth’s vehicle, officers reportedly located two empty THC disposable cart boxes near the passenger seat, and a box of condoms was found in the glove box. Wedgeworth refused to speak with officers at the time and was allowed to go.

The victim reportedly told investigators during an interview that Wedgeworth never made any attempts to touch them or asked for anything after providing money for clothes, food, car rides and a new cell phone.

Investigators later learned during a follow-up interview with the victim in April that Wedgeworth had allegedly paid for the victim and their friends to reserve a hotel room at the Baymont in Lawrence.

The victim also told investigators that Wedgeworth had provided them with “mini alcohol bottles” for their birthday in December, THC Vapes, edibles containing THC and that they “got high together maybe once.”

The victim reiterated that Wedgeworth never touched them inappropriately or sent suggestive images.

Below is a text communication between Wedgeworth and the victim that allegedly occurred on Oct. 2, 2023:

Wedgeworth: “Package is delivered”
Juvenile Victim: “I’ve got the package”
Wedgeworth: “Black bag equals special bag”
Wedgeworth: “Well I got the vape n the edibles instead of the weed pen”
Juvenile Victim: “I saw”
Wedgeworth: “I want this only for you”
Wedgeworth: “I know ur mature”
Wedgeworth: “I understand ur desire to vape n do edibles. U know I do”
Wedgeworth: “I would like for u to not take either vape or edible to school”
Wedgeworth: “Can you do this?”
Juvenile Victim: “Yes sir”
Wedgeworth: “I also would like for u to not take the edibles during the week. U can vape but not eat. I want u to try to cut back on vaping. Ur still growing remember. What do u think?” Juvenile victim: “I’m high asf” Wedgeworth: “Bro I’m so bummed. N why can’t we get high together?

Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation provided the following statement to FOX59/CBS4 following the arrest of Wedgeworth:

Mr. Wedgeworth resigned from Mt. Vernon Middle School in February 2023. At the time of his separation, we had no reason to believe he exhibited any alleged criminal behavior when he was employed at Mt. Vernon and we have not been made aware of any criminal allegations related to his employment. Mt. Vernon will fully cooperate with the authorities in any investigation of this matter.

Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation

New Palestine Community Schools Corporation also shared the statement below regarding Wedgeworth’s previous employment there:

“Brock Wedgeworth was employed as an instructional assistant at New Palestine Junior High School from October 2023 until February 2024. No allegations involve students who attend New Palestine Community Schools and no allegations relate to his employment with our district. All additional questions should be directed to the Greenfield Police Department.”

New Palestine Community Schools Corporation

Anyone with information related to the ongoing investigation into Wedgeworth is encouraged to contact GPD at 317-477-4410.

According to online court records, no hearing date has been set for Wedgeworth in Hancock County.

EDITOR’S NOTE: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified one of the individuals police investigators spoke to as a staff member of Mt. Vernon schools.

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