High School Track Coach Arrested on Serious Charges in Florida
A high school track coach in Florida has found himself in hot water. Jarvis Young, a 40-year-old coach, was arrested on Thursday for some extremely serious allegations. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, he’s accused of trying to engage in sexual contact with a 16-year-old student. What makes it even more troubling is that he allegedly failed to disclose that he’s HIV-positive.
The list of charges against Young is long and includes sexual battery of a victim aged 12 to 18 by a custodial authority, lewd and lascivious acts on a victim aged 16 to 17 by a person 24 or older, child abuse without causing physical harm, interfering with the custody of a minor, and engaging in sexual activity without informing the partner about his HIV status.
The investigation began on August 28 when the 16-year-old student, who attended Lakeland High School, reported the alleged incident to the school resource deputy. The student claimed that during a massage session, Coach Young went beyond boundaries, removing his shorts and making inappropriate advances.
The victim had the courage to stand up against the coach and reported the incident. It happened just two days prior to his report, inside a school building.
Sheriff Grady Judd of Polk County didn’t mince words when he announced Young’s arrest. He emphasized that Young had been arrested before for inappropriate behavior with minors, though he had never been convicted. Judd described Young as a predator who took advantage of his position of authority for his own illicit satisfaction.
In a shocking revelation, Judd mentioned that Young faced charges of conspiracy to commit sexual battery in 2011, which were eventually dropped due to the statute of limitations. In 2017, another juvenile accused Young of inappropriate behavior, but no charges were filed in that case either.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office also learned that Young had traveled to Alabama during the investigation, leading to his arrest upon his return.
The Polk County Public Schools Superintendent, Fred Heid, expressed deep concern about the allegations. He acknowledged that Young had never been convicted in the past but stressed the importance of ensuring safety in the presence of school employees and coaches. The district plans to investigate how Young was allowed to become a coach at the high school and will implement more frequent background checks.
Young is no longer associated with the school district, and the sheriff’s office believes there could be additional victims who have not come forward, urging them to do so by calling 863-298-6200.
These are grave allegations, and it’s essential to ensure the safety of our students in schools. Authorities are taking this matter very seriously, and justice will be served.