4th grader threatened with sexual harassment over love notes

TAMPA, FL (KTRK) -- A 9-year-old boy is being threatened with sexual harassment charges for sending love notes to his 4th grade crush.

School officials say the boy got in trouble because he sent multiple love letters to the girl, ABC affiliate WFTS-TV reports. One note talked about how the girls' eyes "sparkled like diamonds" while others had hearts drawn on them.

The boy's mother says other students started teasing her son, claiming he wanted to see the little girl naked. That's when school officials called him to the principal's office.

"That's when the principal proceeded to tell me that it wasn't appropriate that he was writing the note and that if he writes another note, they are going to file sexual harassment charges on my 9-year-old," the mother told WFTS-TV.

School officials said while the notes weren't explicit, they were unwanted by the young girl which makes them a form of harassment.

"What little kid doesn't write love notes," his mother said in response. "My 9-year-old doesn't even know what sexual harassment means."

The school says it is now reminding teachers to discourage all students from passing notes to prevent further classroom disruptions.