The former Council Bluffs Lewis Central High School Spanish teacher accused of sending inappropriate text messages to a student has been charged and is now free on bail.

Thirty-year-old Daniel Pantoja turned himself in to Pottawattamie County authorities on Friday. He is charged with sexual exploitation by a school employee and lascivious conduct with a minor.

The arrest affidavit indicated his texts included messages like “send me that one and you can literally hand in blank sheets of paper for the rest of your high school career.” Another message said "I have such a crush on you to be honest I would probably just do it if you asked." He also said "you'll own me for the rest of your life".

According to the Pottawattamie County Sheriff's Department, a police report was filed by the 17-year-old girl and her father. According to police reports, Pantoja asked for the teenager's cell phone number in December while she was working at Mall of the Bluffs as one of Santa's elves. He allegedly told her he wanted to get his picture taken with Santa while she was working.

The teen claims she soon began receiving texts from Pantoja stating that if he were her age, he would ask her out. Other texts allegedly asked why she didn't have a boyfriend as she was beautiful.

In the report, the victim went on to state that Pantoja took her phone without her consent during a class and found a photo of her in a sports bra and shorts.

“He expressed a desire for her to send that picture to him, begging her to send that picture to him,” says Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker. “He said he would give her a better grade in the class if she sent him that picture or so he created the motivation for her to send him that picture."

Investigators say at that point, the girl received a photo of a nude male torso, with a hand covering the genitalia, from Pantoja's cell phone. He reportedly asked that she send him two more photos, one with less clothing and the other with more.

Superintendent of Lewis Central Community Schools Mark Schweer told Channel 6 News, “It was brought to our attention that there was inappropriate communication between a teacher and a student. When the teacher was confronted with the information, the teacher chose to resign.”

The Lewis Central Board of Education approved the resignation Wednesday.