- November 21, 2024
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A former Mainland High School football coach and teacher was sentenced to 21 years in prison for child sexual abuse crimes committed while he was employed by Volusia County Schools, the State Attorney's Office reported.
Arin Hankerd, who was most recently a football coach and teacher at Atlantic High School, was arrested in May of 2023 and charged for two different sexual abuse cases. The charges included include two counts of child molestation, traveling to meet a minor, exhibition via computer, sexual activity with a minor and two counts of committing an offense against a student by an authority figure.
Hankerd was initially arrested for crimes committed while he was the coach at Atlantic; the second victim came forward after his arrest, according to the the State Attorney's Office. That crime was committed when Hankerd was a coach and teacher at Mainland in 2019.
“Coaches have significant sway over the athletes and students they serve,” State Attorney R.J. Larizza said in a press release. “The defendant chose to use his influence to sexually exploit and manipulate our victims. His betrayal of their trust and vulnerability makes him a predator of epic proportions.”
The cases were investigated by the Port Orange and Ormond Beach Police Departments. In addition to the 21 years in prison, Hankerd will serve 30 years of sex offender probation and will be designated as a sexual predator.
