Fort Myers youth mentor arrested for inappropriate texts to teen

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FORT MYERS, Fla.- A mentor to at-risk children is out on bond after being accused of sending obscene material to a teenage boy.

JoEllen Gardner, 32, refused to speak on camera about the incident.

Authorities say Gardner exchanged text messages of sexual photos and conversations with a 16-year-old.

The teenager says he met Gardner while he was in treatment at the Youth Haven center in Fort Myers. He admits the two had kissed and held hands but never had sex.

Gardner is expected to be in a Collier County court Jan. 11, 2016.

Her bond was set at $15,000.

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