Florida teacher/coach arrested for alleged sex with student in classroom closet

HAINES CITY, Fla. (WKMG) -- A former Haines City High School coach and teacher is accused of sexually battering a female student while they were both inside his classroom's closet on at least 10 different occasions, according to the Haines City Police Department.

Records show one of the victim's family members became aware of an inappropriate relationship with Wayne McKenzie Ricks II, 29, and reported it.

While at school, Ricks would have the victim come to his classroom while he was alone and the two would have sex inside the classroom's closet, according to authorities. Police said Ricks would text the girl to come to his class during school hours and provide an authorized pass for her. The abuse is believed to date back to at least October 2020.

Records show Ricks was hired at Haines City High School on Aug. 31, 2020 and resigned on Saturday. He was an ESE teacher and junior varsity boys' basketball coach who had no prior disciplinary action on his personnel file.

Ricks was arrested Tuesday night, Jan. 26, on 10 counts of custodial sexual battery on a victim between the ages of 12 and 18.

The Lakeland ledger reports another student, a friend of the victim, told investigators they saw Ricks and the victim walk into the closet to have sex on about 10 occasions. Detectives said they obtained video of what appeared to be Ricks and the victim kissing inside the classroom. The victim told detectives that sexual contact also took place inside of Ricks' vehicle, the Ledger reports.

The Orlando Sentinel reported in 2019 that a former Poinciana High School teacher and basketball coach named Wayne McKenzie Ricks was found not guilty of two charges related to a 2018 incident.

An Osceola Sheriff's Office report in 2018 alleged that Ricks sent a naked photo of himself to a student. Ricks denied the allegations. Ricks resigned his position a day before his arrest.

A jury in Osceola County voted in May 2019 that Wayne McKenzie Ricks was not guilty of transmission of material harmful to minors to a minor by electronic device or equipment by a school authority figure. The jury also found him not guilty of harassing a victim, witness or informant.