OCALA, Fla. — An Ocala High School football coach was arrested on Friday on multiple charges that include illegal sexual activity with certain minors.
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Ocala Police Detective Blanton arrested James Edward Ford III, 43, for several felony charges, offenses against students by authority figures, travel to meet a minor to engage in illegal sexual activity, and use of a two-way communication device to facility felony.
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Last week, School Resource Officer Pope was informed of a possible inappropriate relationship between a student and Ford..
The student said they kissed, including once in a school locker room, and had a sexual encounter in Ford’s vehicle in September 2024.
The student was 16 years old at the time of the encounter.
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