A former coach and City of Ocala employee committed illegal sexual acts with certain minors, committed crimes against students by persons of authority, visited minors to engage in illegal sexual acts, and both parties to a facility. He was arrested on suspicion of using a communication device. felony.
Ocala police took James Edward Ford III into custody Friday at his Marion Oaks residence and took him to the police station for questioning. After Ford was questioned, he was transported to the Marion County Jail for booking, according to the arrest report.
At his initial appearance hearing before Circuit Judge Barbara Kisner Kwatkoski at the jail on Saturday, Mr. Ford, 43, said he works for the city and has requested an attorney from the public defender’s office. The judge appointed the firm to represent him and set bail at $35,000.
The judge told Ford that if he posts bail, he cannot have contact with any witnesses in the case or the boy, except for his son.
His next court date for arraignment is set for February 18th.
A school district spokesperson said Ford is no longer affiliated with the district. He was an assistant football coach at Westport High School, according to the arrest report. Ford is not allowed to visit campus. A spokesperson said the district is conducting its own investigation.
Ocala city officials said city policy prohibits discussion of personnel matters.
Interview with victim by detective
Detective Crystal Blanton said in the report that OPD was contacted by a school resource officer regarding the alleged inappropriate relationship. Police sources said Ford was aware of the charges and school officials instructed him not to return to school.
Blanton visited the school on Friday and interviewed students. The student said Ford asked her to be his Valentine, and the two had been talking and texting each other. She said they met each other outside of school. According to reports, their friendship began in August 2024.
The boy said they kissed, and that one of the encounters happened in the locker room. The report also details a sexual encounter in a Ford vehicle in September 2024.
In the report, detectives said the student was 16 years old at the time of the sexual encounter.
On Wednesday, the girl said Ford gave her money to delete the text messages. Detectives were still able to review the documents, the report said.
ford interview
Mr. Blanton also interviewed Mr. Ford. He admitted texting the girl but denied having any inappropriate chats with her. He said some of the text messages were of a sexual nature and said they were song lyrics, the report said.
Detectives said Ford denied having any sexual contact with the girl. He then changed his story and told detectives he stopped the girl because she was acting out.
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As for the text messages, Ford admitted he told her to delete them.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com
