Former Volusia teacher accused of sex contact with students arrested again, faces more charges

Arin Hankerd, 43, held without bond

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A former gym teacher at Atlantic High School in Port Orange accused of having sexual contact with multiple students was arrested again and is facing more charges.

Arin Hankerd, 43, a former gym teacher and football coach at Atlantic High School, was arrested again on Tuesday. He faces charges of unlawful sexual activity with a minor stemming from an incident in 2019.

According to a charging affidavit, the victim, who was a 17-year-old student at Mainland High School in 2019, told police Hankerd added her on Facebook that year in July and began messaging her for photos of her outfits and her in bikinis.

Hankerd also sent photos of himself wearing just boxers, according to the affidavit. Facebook messages in the affidavit showed explicit messages between Hankerd to the teen.

The victim went to his home where he touched her and made her have oral sex, according to the document.

The two stopped talking until August 2022 when she asked him if he still had photos of her that she sent to him. During that conversation, Hankerd told the victim she was “definitely special” and said their relationship was a “tricky situation” due to him being a teacher.

The victim is one of six who have come forward and accused Hankerd of inappropriate conduct.

He was first arrested in February after police said he had sexual contact with a 15-year-old student at Atlantic High School. Four other victims from Atlantic High School and Mainland High School came forward with accusations.

In those cases, Hankerd faces charges of traveling to meet a minor, lewd and lascivious exhibition via computer to a minor, and two counts of lewd molestation of a victim between 12 and 16 years of age.

A judge ruled Hankerd would be held without bond.

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About the Authors

Brenda Argueta is a digital journalist who joined ClickOrlando.com in March 2021. She is the author of the Central Florida Happenings newsletter that goes out every Thursday.

Anthony, a graduate of the University of Florida, joined ClickOrlando.com in April 2022.

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