DAYTONA BEACH, Fla – A former Volusia County teacher accused of having relationships with students decided his own prison fate.
Arin Hankerd was arrested in February last year after Port Orange police said two victims came forward. Hankerd then pleaded no contest in October.
Judge Karen Foxman gave Hankerd until Wednesday to decide whether he will take the state’s deal or go to trial, where he could potentially face up to 186 years in prison.
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“I want to make sure you have enough time to discuss with your attorney that offer and any pros and cons. The state is saying they are not objecting to you withdrawing your plea,” Foxman told him in court.
After court reconvened on Wednesday, Hankered chose to keep his open plea, which means the case will not go to trial and that Hankerd did not accept the state’s offer.
If Hankerd took the state’s deal, he would have faced 25 years in prison, plus 10 years probation and be listed as a sexual predator.
When Hankerd entered a no-contest plea in October, the state sentencing guidelines showed an 18-year minimum in prison.
Then last month, the state changed the guidelines, giving Hankerd the chance to withdraw his plea since the conditions changed and debate if he’d rather have a trial.
Hankerd has been in jail since last year.
Port Orange police arrested him while he was a teacher at Atlantic High School after a student came forward saying they had a sexual relationship. Detectives said then, another student came forward, this time from Mainland High School where Hankerd taught before he transferred to Atlantic.
Hankerd’s sentencing is scheduled for May 17. The minimum sentence he could receive would be 18.6 years in prison, though the maximum would extend as far as 190 years.
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