Ocala: So, there’s some pretty shocking news coming out of Ocala. James Edward Ford III, a 43-year-old assistant football coach at West Port High School, got arrested for having an inappropriate relationship with a student. The police say he was charged with unlawful sexual activity, which is a big deal.
It all started when a School Resource Officer heard rumors about Ford and a 17-year-old student. They kicked off an investigation, and it turns out the student had been texting and talking to Ford since January 2024. He even asked her to be his Valentine, which is just wild.
Things escalated, and by August 2024, they were meeting up outside of school. At first, they hung out with others, but then it became just the two of them. The student mentioned they kissed in a school locker room and had a sexual encounter in Ford’s car at a Waffle House in September 2024. She was only 16 at the time.
The student also told the cops that Ford tried to cover his tracks by giving her money to delete their messages, but she didn’t do it. The school found out and told Ford not to come back. He had been coaching since 2022 but claimed he’d been involved with the team for about five years.
Now, he’s facing some serious felony charges, including unlawful sexual activity with minors and using a communication device to commit a felony. The Ocala Police made it clear that this kind of behavior is totally unacceptable, especially from someone in a position of authority. They’re urging anyone else who might have had similar experiences to come forward. It’s a tough situation for everyone involved.
