Lake County teacher had sex with former student, deputies say

Cops say South Lake High School teacher arrested also coached softball

CLERMONT, Fla. – A Lake County teacher and coach has been arrested on Tuesday after deputies say he was having an inappropriate relationship with a former student.

Michael Ryan, 45, an Exceptional Student Education teacher and softball coach at South Lake High School, has been charged with unlawful sexual activity with a minor.

Deputies said the investigation began on June 26, 2013 when Ryan was pulled over at 1:45 a.m. in Clermont for a tag light violation and deputies noticed a female in her late teens riding in the passenger seat of his vehicle.

The girl told deputies that Ryan was a family friend, but deputies said they later discovered that Ryan was a teacher and the girl was a former student.

According to the report, the girl told deputies that she and Ryan had been out on several occasions and had been talking on the phone and texting. Ryan said he had only been out with the girl on one other occasion, deputies said.

Upon investigation, deputies found that the girl and Ryan had sex two times in June 2013 and that the two would go to movies and dinner together, according to the report.

Ryan was arrested after a case was filed with the state attorney's office and taken to Lake County jail on $5,000 bond.

After Ryan was pulled over in June 2013, he was temporarily assigned to a non-student-contact position at the district office. Lake County Schools officials said he has not been at South Lake High School during the 2013-2014 school year.

Ryan, who has been with the district and South Lake High School for nine years, was put on unpaid leave after his Tuesday arrest. He also served as the bowling coach at the school, officials said.


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