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HomeCrimeAttorney’s letter to School Board and City of Alachua alleges sexual relationship between SFHS baseball coach and female student

Attorney’s letter to School Board and City of Alachua alleges sexual relationship between SFHS baseball coach and female student

July 8, 2024

BY JENNIFER CABRERA

ALACHUA, Fla. – Attorney Bobi Frank has sent the School Board of Alachua County (SBAC) and the City of Alachua a demand letter alleging that former Santa Fe High School (SFHS) Baseball Coach Travis Yeckring “engaged in inappropriate contact with a female minor student of a sexual nature” and that the City and School Board failed to protect the student from Yeckring after she reported the inappropriate incidents.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement confirmed in March that it was investigating “allegations of sexual misconduct” at the high school; Yeckring was placed on administrative leave at about the same time.

The letter demands information on liability insurance policies held by the two entities, a first step in the process of filing a lawsuit, and also demands the preservation of any documents relating in any way to the alleged incidents.

The “Notice of Claim” attached to the letter states that the claimant is a parent of the female student and that the alleged incident took place in October 2022 at the high school. The Notice of Claim states that the “City of Alachua and [SBAC], specifically SFHS, breached its duty of care by failing to protect the Claimant from inappropriate behavior of a sexual nature from Mr. Yeckring, specifically those that she reported to administration to prevent the foreseeable injury. Additionally, SFHS failed to document any of the incidents reported by Claimant regarding Mr. Yeckring’s inappropriate contact with her in a sexual nature, exemplifying further negligence.”

The Notice of Claim lists SFHS Principal Tim Wright, Assistant Principal for Curriculum Mac Rendek, Athletic Director Michele Faulk, and Yeckring as individuals who may be implicated in the lawsuit. It lists “Florida Statute violations, actual monetary loss, irreparable emotional trauma, mental anguish, pain and suffering, financial damage, and psychological & emotional injuries [that] are still accruing” as injuries and states that all “available and allowable compensation for injuries sustained” will be pursued.

Alachua Chronicle received the document from the City of Alachua in response to a public records request. In response to a request for comment from SBAC regarding the allegations against its current and former employees, Public Information Officer Jackie Johnson responded, “We would not be able to discuss this situation because of the pending litigation.” It is unclear why the City of Alachua is included in the lawsuit, but the Alachua Police Department provides School Resource Officers to schools in the city, including SFHS.

  • They always say they can’t comment because of pending litigation. That’s a choice the board and the Johnson formerly known as Kurtz make to avoid transparency. It is a choice, not a law to avoid telling the taxpayers anything.

    • More likely it’s to prevent the disclosure of something that may be incriminating. You know, that, “anything you say, can and will be used…” I’m no lawyer but I would guess that would be especially important in a civil lawsuit.
      All attorneys advise their clients do the same, any good one will anyway.

      • La – It isn’t. It’s also the band directors (look at what happened at Buchholz in 2021) and the chorus directors (check out the very-serious issues at Douglas Anderson in Jacksonville).

        It seems like predators/groomers embed themselves in programs where they have long-term access to their victims, not just one year. Coaches, and chorus, band, drama, etc teacher also spend time outside normal school hours, on weekends, in the summers practicing and going to competitions/performances with students.

        It also puts them in a position of power over their victims, possibly for their future studies or careers.

        All of these things give them greater control over the students as well as the parents. They are in a position of trust and power, and they have long-term access which is optimum for their grooming to be effective.

          • Thank you – unfortunately I have had a lot of time to think about this topic. My child was a Buchholz band student.

    • Joe – to be fair, this is also an HR issue for the school board and, as such, they really can’t say anything until things are resolved for them.

      At the same time, I wish for the same transparency that you do.

  • The city of Alachua maybe named because the way the School Resource Officers (APD) handled the situation.

  • Why don’t the parents go after the perp criminally? Why is it always about the money? He had inappropriate sexual contact with a minor. That’s a criminal offense.

    • Satire: You’re right and there is tons of evidence which is why he got arrested? Nope he didn’t. Shame on you and the Alachua Chronicle for continuing to carry the pail for Bobi Frank. If there was evidence he would be arrested. The only stories being told are from Bobi. No arrest by any agency? Something smells.

      • Indeed Bobi Frank is a young lawyer that is using this case to get in front of the camera and make a name for herself. She is only doing this to advance her career in a push to get into public office, she cares about nothing else.

    • Parents can’t “go after the perp criminally”. That’s up to the prosecutor (DA).

    • FDLE is doing the criminal investigation so I’m sure criminal charges are likely coming.

    • dear gatorgab: If you sue an unemployed coach you be lucky to collect $5. If you sue the school board they cut a check for $5,000,000 for the victim. Reality.

      • I don’t believe the Board has ever cut a check for that amount. However, I’m sure they’ve cut more checks than they should have to remove prior superintendents from their jobs.
        Doubtful it was anywhere near the amount UF has paid to get rid of coaches who didn’t work out the way they expected though.

      • So if your 16 year olddaughter’s school baseball coach has a se dual relationship with her what would you do? After reporting to the school, school resource officers, local police and they spun their wheels and nothing get done. Cant go to the Sheriff at the time (Watson) given his relationship with the city of Alachua and Santa Fe. What are you left to do? Get State involved to investigate and SUE everyone involved. Bobi Frank took on Clovis and did a good job so far. I trust that she can handle the City of Alachua and Alachua County. I sure would like to know what axe she gas to grind.

        • I think the “Bobi Frank has an axe to grind” crowd are the people who are mad she’s pushing against the established good old boy system that’s had a stranglehold on the City of Alachua for many, many decades.

          Rumors of corruption in the city, the city commission and the Alachua Police Department, all working in tandem, aren’t new nor are they unique to the City of Alachua.

          But the city has grown exponentially in recent years and the newcomers aren’t as willing to accept the idea that this is just how it is.

          “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” — MLK. Jr.

  • State Attorney Brian Kramer is a bum who ran and won once as an unopposed candidate. Consider voting for his opponent in November.

    • Watching eagerly from Union County. Kramer made some corrupt moves over here with a wonderful person who ended up getting his job back after a second independent investigation cleared his good name! Get Kramer out!!!

  • I’ve known many of the individuals named in this recycled news story. I stand with them 1000%.

    • First of all, this isn’t recycled news. The lawsuit being filed against the school board is new-news.

      Second of all, I’ve been in your position where I thought I knew the person being investigated and I didn’t know him at all. I only knew what he wanted me (and many others) to know. (Look up what happened with the band director at Buchholz in 2021.)

      These kinds of crimes – grooming and sexual abuse – go on behind closed doors and the predators go to great lengths to protect themselves from exposure.

      One reason so many are being exposed now is that it’s no longer just “he said she said” because there are often electronic/digital records to back up allegations. FINALLY.

      I hope you’re right that the rumors about ongoing sexual abuse by more than one adult at SFHS, and that administration covered it up, are not true. Because if they are true, we will probably never be able to heal the all of the victims of the abuse and grooming.

      But if you are wrong, then I celebrate that these predators and their enablers have been dragged into the sunshine.

  • teachers dont care about education.. they all secretly are obsessed with children.. some teachers act on it and some keep it inside for later.. TEACHERS ARE MOLESTERS AND IF THEY HAVE NOT MADE A MOVE YET, THEY WILL!

    • Another idiot comes out of the woodwork.
      Be careful what you claim, some of those teachers may sue you for slander.

      • Im sure those blood sucking liberals in the education system would love to use all of their free time to sue this guy… lmao. you must have a teacher in your family

        • You don’t have it.

          One thing about most vermin and insects…they are communal/social creatures; enjoy the company you keep.

          One thing I’ve noticed about the majority of teachers, they’ve got more common sense and intelligence than you do. Probably much better groomed as well.

    • SO NOT SO!

      I have dedicated my entire adult life to teaching children, mathematics, and they are grateful for my expertise and my willingness to treat them as human beings and teach them in a way that they can all learn and all be successful. Shame on you for saying things that you have no evidence that are true.

      Maybe you went to school maybe you experienced 24 different teachers in high school maybe nine or 10 in middle school or 12 and elementary school. And no way, is that a representative sample for you to try to defame all teachers who have dedicated their lives to the educate students and helping Become successful as adults.

      Maybe some of them suck maybe some of them are abusers, but your statements are not statistically accurate there is no way that you could know this personally, much less validate your claims!!!

      Shame on you for trying to shame people that you have no information about very very poor behavior on your part!

      This is like saying because you know one Veteran, who is not a very good person that all veterans are bad people. Poor judgment, poor logic!

  • The corruption here isn’t at Santa Fe. It’s a menopausal attorney with an axe to grind. Don’t they make meds for that?

    • All of the people who are saying that abuse has been rampant at SFHS would beg to differ.

      And maybe your crude comment about the attorney referenced in this story is true? Maybe she IS menopausal. Maybe she also has an axe to grind?

      That doesn’t mean that the allegations against Yeckring or the other, still ongoing investigation into other people related to the SFHS athletic program aren’t true.

      Two things can be true. If there was nothing there, then how the heck did the FDLE manage to get a warrant to search a lawyer’s office last week?

      • You can’t even be sure that it was the attorneys office that was searched. the building also houses Alachua County Today newspaper, they could have been searching their records for some reason, after all a newspaper takes a lot of pictures of school events, Maybe they think some of them could be of value in the FDLE investigation.

    • Not to mention this menopausal attorney went to a bottom of the barrel, for profit law school. She is basically an ambulance chaser with a desire to move into political office just for the fame and power.

      • Blue Benz, Tell us you’re her ‘ex’ without telling us you’re her ‘ex’….

      • Well, Blue, if she exposes corruption (Clovis) and abuse on her way to elected office, its more than some elected officials have done.

  • do a quick google search of “teacher” and press the news tab…
    there are countless stories (recent) telling us how dangerous and perverted everybody in the education system is..
    why would you send your baby to school with these losers?
    TRY THAT IN A SMALL TOWN

    • “Everybody”?

      Another one comes out of the woodwork.
      Can’t decide if it’s people like yourself who have me more concerned for the future of this country or the politics of many of today’s youth. Either way, both are dangerous.

  • I hope this isn’t true. We’re seeing so many accusations against teachers of both sexes for sexual misconduct with the kids they’re supposed to be responsible for. But if this is true, then this man should be criminally charged as well as the civil law suits.

    • this same man has been under investigation for months, there are so many articles and posts on FB about him. I’m pretty sure it’s true. Why SFHS didn’t do anything about it after it was brought to their attention? Seems like they were trying to cover it up somehow, until the parents got involved!

  • It’d help to know why the authorities didn’t think to record and report the allegations at first. Appears to be another example of jaded seniority system staff supposedly caring for our innocent youth. A bad combination. 👿👺🤡👹

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