A mugshot of Brittany Fortinberry, a 31-year-old married teacher, has been made public following her arrest last month. She faces serious allegations of soliciting underage boys to engage in s*xual acts while donning Scream masks.
Fortinberry, who taught at Eminence High School in Martinsville, Indiana, is charged with s*xually assaulting a 15-year-old boy and communicating inappropriately with other students. The initial victim reported that there were at least ten other potential victims, and since her arrest, five more individuals have come forward with similar claims. Fortinberry is currently being held at Morgan County Jail and is facing numerous charges.
After a brief transfer to Marion County for an unspecified legal matter, she was returned to Morgan County. Upon her return, a new mugshot was taken, showing her in an orange jumpsuit and large black glasses, appearing disheveled.
Fortinberry is facing the prospect of a divorce from her husband of four years, who reportedly had knowledge of the abuse.
Law enforcement officials have stated that Fortinberry, a mother of four, expressed to her students at two junior high schools her fantasies of engaging in s*xual acts with them. Allegations suggest that she provided underage boys with alcohol and drugs, including magic mushrooms, before assaulting them.
The investigation was initiated after a grandmother reported that Fortinberry had abused her 15-year-old grandson. According to the boy’s grandmother, Fortinberry had sent graphic messages and took him on outings where she allegedly threatened to harm herself if he disclosed the abuse.
Court documents indicate that the victim compared the situation to being the target of a 30-year-old man preying on a 15-year-old girl, characterizing it as child molestation. During the investigation, police discovered s*xual paraphernalia in her home, leading to her arrest.
Further revelations emerged from friends of Fortinberry, who stated that their children had been targeted. One friend alleged that her son had been groomed by Fortinberry, who lavished him with gifts, and tried to contact him repeatedly until she advised him to block her on social media. Upon hearing about the teacher’s arrest, the boy detailed troubling interactions with Fortinberry, including being sent explicit videos and offered substances.
Additional claims from the alleged victims detailed instances where Fortinberry supposedly pressured them to engage in s*xual acts after using drugs, making the situation all the more troubling.
In the midst of these allegations, Fortinberry reportedly attributed her actions to her recent weight loss, expressing regret over her transformation.
Following the emergence of these allegations in August, Fortinberry was immediately suspended from her position and resigned the following day. The school district emphasizes that the well-being of its students is their utmost priority and has committed to cooperating with law enforcement.
Fortinberry is set to return to court on April 3 for a bond hearing and is scheduled for a jury trial on June 25. Her husband, Nicholas Fortinberry, also faces charges related to intimidation and failure to report a crime.
