BRADFORD COUNTY, Fla. — UPDATE: Action News Jax has learned a second Bradford County School District employee has a warrant out for her arrest on similar charges >> Read more details HERE
A Bradford County School District employee is accused of sending sexually explicit text messages to a high school student, according to a news release from the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office.
Lainie Kay Rodgers, 24, is facing charges of transmission of harmful material to a minor by electronic device, and authority figure soliciting/engaging in lewd conduct with a student, BCSO said.
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Deputies got a tip on Thursday that a Bradford High School student saw “inappropriate text messages” on her friend’s phone “from a Bradford School District employee/coach ... that contained sexually explicit language,” the release detailed.
Rodgers was listed as the head volleyball coach for Bradford High School on the school’s website.
At first, the victim, a 16-year-old girl, was interviewed with her parents present and told detectives that there was no inappropriate behavior going on with Rodgers and said they were just friends.
Detectives then went to Rodgers’ home “and admitted to sending sexually explicit text messages to the victim’s phone,” BCSO said.
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The victim was then again interviewed with her mother present and “admitted to having a more involved relationship” with Rodgers than she said previously.
Rodgers turned herself in at the Bradford County Jail on Monday night at 9:30 p.m. and was released on a $75,000 bond. Her first court appearance has yet to be scheduled.
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The Bradford County School District released the following statement on Autumn Rodgers and Lainie Rodgers’ arrests:
“We are shocked and saddened about the recent news regarding members of our staff. The safety and well-being of our students is always our top priority, and we will not tolerate any behavior that puts that in jeopardy. We are fully cooperating with the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office and have launched our own internal investigation as well. The employees in question were placed on immediate administrative leave while the accusations against them are fully investigated. We have offered counseling services for our students at any time, if needed. The safety and well-being of our students is always our top priority, and we will not tolerate any behavior that puts that in jeopardy. We encourage anyone that has any information that may assist us in the protection of our students to please contact us.”
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