A civilian volunteer for the Hernando County Sheriff's Office was arrested Thursday and charged with multiple counts of sexual battery on underage teen boys.

  • Bruce McAllister, 68, husband of school principal
  • Used school sponsored foreign exchange program to lure victims
  • Detectives believe other victims likely

Officials said on April 29 the Sheriff's Office received a complaint about multiple sex offenses being committed at a residence in Brooksville. A subsequent investigation revealed that Bruce McAllister, 68, the husband of a principal at Hernando Christian Academy, used a school sponsored foreign exchange program to lure victims to the home.

McAllister, also a staff member at Hernando Christian Academy, "courted and molested several underage teenage boys while under his guardianship," according to the Brooksville Police Department.

A spokesperson for the Hernando County Sheriff's Office has confirmed that McAllister was a civilian volunteer for that agency, and has been dismissed.

Hernando Christian Academy issued the following statement regarding McAllister's arrest:

On May 11, 2017 an arrest was made of a Hernando Volunteer Sheriff, according to online news reports.

The news source alleged that the offender was the husband of an employee of Hernando Christian Academy.

Hernando Christian Academy has not had the opportunity to verify the veracity of the allegations.

No Hernando Christian Academy employees, including the wife of the alleged offender, have been implicated. However, the Academy has begun an investigation and will cooperate with all governmental agencies regarding the matter.

Hernando Christian Academy has been operating since 1981 and has had no prior incidents [of this nature.] It has an outstanding reputation in the community for providing quality education in a positive, uplifting environment. The Academy has welcomed international students from China, Brazil, Vietnam and elsewhere.

The investigation is ongoing, and detectives believe other victims likely exist. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Detective Pasternak at (352) 540-3800, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-866-990-TIPS and hernandocountycrimestoppers.com.