Wayne Ricks, 29, was hired at the high school in August of 2020.
Credit: Haines City Police Department
Author: 10 Tampa Bay
Updated: 6:53 PM EST January 27, 2021
HAINES CITY, Fla. — A former Haines City high school teacher was arrested Tuesday evening for "sexually engaging" a student for months, the city's police department says.
Wayne Ricks, 29, was arrested on 10 counts of sexual battery on a victim between the ages of 12 and 18. According to police, the former basketball coach had been involved with the student since the fall, including on-campus.
Police say Ricks would have the student come to his classroom while he was alone and the two would "have intercourse" in a closet. A friend of the student who was in the classroom on most occasions said it happened around 10 times, officers said. The two would spend time with each other outside of school as well, according to police.