US Shocker: Florida Teacher Has Sex With Multiple Students, Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison
Arin Hankerd, a 44-year-old former teacher at several high schools in Volusia County in US’s Florida, has been sentenced to 21 years in prison after being accused of having sex with multiple students.
Florida, May 11: Arin Hankerd, a 44-year-old former teacher at several high schools in Volusia County in US’s Florida, has been sentenced to 21 years in prison after being accused of having sex with multiple students. Hankerd pleaded no contest to charges including unlawful sexual activity with a minor by an authority figure, traveling to meet a minor by an authority figure, lewd and lascivious exhibition via computer by an authority figure, two counts of offense against students by an authority figure, and two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation by an authority figure.
In addition to his prison sentence, Hankerd will serve 30 years of sex offender probation and will be designated as a sexual predator, reported ClickOrlando.
Hankerd was arrested in February 2023 after Port Orange police received a report of an ongoing “relationship” between him and a 15-year-old student at Atlantic High School, where he worked as a gym teacher and football coach. He had also been employed at Mainland and Father Lopez high schools. Sex With Student in US: Texas High School Teacher Arrested for Engaging in Sexual Activity With 15-Year-Old Student Inside Classroom.
The arrest came after the 15-year-old girl’s mother discovered a journal detailing her daughter’s contact with Hankerd. The student and Hankerd had communicated via Instagram, where he sent her inappropriate photos. The affidavit states that Hankerd and the student had sexual interactions in a portable classroom and a gym storage room at the school over several occasions. UK Shocker: Teacher Has Sex With Minor Student in Field, Sends Him Topless Pic on Snapchat; Banned From Teaching For Life.
Following the announcement of Hankerd’s arrest, Port Orange police reported that they were contacted about 30 times and that more potential victims from Atlantic and other high schools came forward to report sexual abuse.
Hankerd was arrested again in May 2023, this time in connection to a 2019 incident in which the victim — a 17-year-old Mainland High School student at the time — told police that he started messaging her, asking her for photos of her outfits and her in bikinis.
Hankerd also sent photos of himself wearing just boxers, according to the charging affidavit. Facebook messages in the affidavit showed explicit messages from Hankerd to the teen. The victim at one point went to his home, where Hankerd touched her and made her have oral sex, according to the document.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 11, 2024 12:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).