Ocala, Florida – A high school football coach has been charged with sexually abusing a 16-year-old student, and authorities are concerned that there may be more victims. James Edward Ford III, 43, was arrested on Friday following a report made to a school resource officer at West Port High School. According to the Ocala Police Department, the female student claimed that she and Ford kissed multiple times, including incidents in a locker room, and had a sexual encounter in the coach’s vehicle last September.
The investigation reveals that the inappropriate contact began when Ford started texting the student in January 2024. This led to a meeting outside of school eight months later, raising serious concerns about the dynamics between the coach and student. Police officials described the conduct as “unacceptable, especially for a person in an authority position over children”. They are urging anyone else who may have experienced similar treatment to come forward.
Ford faces a lengthy list of criminal charges, which include unlawful sexual activity with certain minors, offenses against students by authority figures, and using a communication device to facilitate a felony. He has been an assistant coach since 2022, a role he no longer holds following his firing from the Ocala school. The school district issued a statement confirming that he is no longer employed by Marion County Public Schools and is prohibited from being on campus for any reason.
As the investigation continues, police suspect there may be additional young victims involved. They are actively seeking information to ensure the safety of students and bring any potential offenders to justice. The case has sent shockwaves through the community, as parents express concern for their children’s safety and the integrity of school authority figures.
