A Florida high school track coach finds himself in legal trouble after being accused of attempting sexual contact with a 16-year-old student and not disclosing his HIV-positive status. Jarvis Young (pictured above), a 40-year-old track coach, was apprehended by the Polk County Sheriff's Office and now faces several charges.
Authorities have charged Young with sexual battery against a victim aged 12 to 18 by a custodial authority, lewd and lascivious acts by someone 24 or older on a victim aged 16 to 17, child abuse without causing bodily harm, interference with the custody of a minor, and engaging in sexual activity as an HIV-infected person without informing the partner.
The investigation into Young's actions began on August 28 when a 16-year-old student from Lakeland High School reported the alleged incident to the school resource deputy.
The victim recounted an unsettling encounter during which Young provided a massage and then proceeded to inappropriately touch the student's private areas while attempting to perform an oral sex act. The victim acted swiftly, stopping Young during the incident, which took place in a school building just two days before the report.
Sheriff Grady Judd strongly condemned Young's actions, labeling him as a predator who exploited his position of authority for his own sexual satisfaction.
He noted that Young had been previously arrested for inappropriate sexual behavior involving minors but was never convicted. Judd cited a 2011 case in which Young was charged with conspiracy to commit sexual battery with another person, involving juveniles they mentored.
However, the case was dropped due to the statute of limitations expiring.
In 2017, another incident was reported to the Lakeland Police Department, alleging that Young touched a juvenile's thigh and unzipped his pants, but no criminal charges were filed at the time. During the investigation, it was discovered that Young had traveled to Alabama. Upon his return, he was arrested.
The Polk County Public Schools Superintendent, Fred Heid, expressed gratitude to the sheriff's office for its thorough investigation and assured cooperation with ongoing inquiries. Heid expressed deep concern about the allegations against Young, emphasizing the district's commitment to student safety.
He announced a comprehensive investigation into how Young was allowed to become a coach at the high school and pledged to implement more frequent background checks as an added precaution.
In another news, the Rivers State Police Command has taken into custody three individuals accused of the murder of a young man known as Progress Iyogo and the gruesome act of harvesting his organs. See detailed story here.
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