Polk Educator Faces Charges For Failing To Report Sex Complaint

HAINES CITY, FL — A 15-year Florida educator with Polk County Public Schools was facing criminal charges Thursday after he allegedly left Ridge Community High School for the day without reporting a May 28 criminal sexual conduct complaint involving two students, according to the Haines City Police Department.

Thirty-eight-year-old Kevin Sanford was to be charged with failure to report abuse and resisting police without violence. The reporting offense is a third-degree felony in Florida while the other offense is classified as a first-degree misdemeanor.

Haines city police were alerted to the May 28 incident involving the students by staff at the Lake County emergency room, where the alleged female victim was taken.

Investigators spoke with Sanford the following morning at Ridge Community High School and said he became "physically irate, argumentative and failed to provide pertinent information" related to the case.

"Sanford acknowledged to not notifying law enforcement, claiming it was the end of the school day and he had not yet completed his investigation," according to Haines City police. "The principal told Sanford that law enforcement should have been notified immediately."

Police said the case involves one student accusing another of "criminal sexual conduct."

In a statement, Polk County Superintendent Jacqueline M. Byrd said she was disappointed by the allegations against Sanford, who is the dean of students at the school.

"As educators, we have been entrusted with ensuring the safety and well-being of our students," said Byrd, promising to act swiftly to the "fullest extent of her authority" if disciplinary action proves warranted.

"Allegations of abuse must always be promptly reported to the proper authorities," she said. "Failure to do so is not only illegal, it places our students at risk of further abuse. We cannot and will not allow that to happen.

The mother of the alleged victim told police she spoke with Sanford about the incident at noon on May 28.

"The mother said she was told by Sanford that he would call her back once video was reviewed from where on campus the incident was said to have occurred," according to Haines City police. "The mother said she had not heard back from Sanford on May 28, so she called the school and was told that he had left for the day. The mother took her daughter to the emergency room later that day."

Police said Sanford declined to speak further with detectives regarding the incident following his initial interview. The $50,350-year-educator had no other other disciplinary action in his file.

The Florida Department of Children and Families was notified by detectives.

"When parents send their children off to school, they should be able to do so with trust in the school's administration," Haines City Police Chief Jim Elensky added. "Mr. Sanford failed to act in this case, but we appreciate that the rest of the administration was very cooperative in this investigation."