HAINES CITY, Fla. — The dean of students at Ridge Community High School faces charges of failure to report abuse.
- Kevin Sanford, 38, faces third-degree felony charge
- Police said he was notified of abuse but didn't call authorities
- Superintendent "terribly disappointed" by allegations
- More Polk County headlines
Kevin Sanford, 38, will be charged after the Haines City Police Department said he didn't report a criminal sexual conduct complaint involving two students on May 28.
One student accused another of criminal sexual conduct.
The alleged incident was reported to Haines City police from a Lake County emergency room the same day.
The next morning, police visited Sanford at the school and said he "became physically irate, argumentative and failed to provide pertinent information related to the criminal sexual conduct."
According to police, Sanford said he hadn't completed his own investigation. Police told him law enforcement should have been notified immediately.
The mother of the alleged victim said she spoke with Sanford on May 28 but did not receive a call back. She took her daughter to the emergency room later in the day.
"I am terribly disappointed by the allegations that a staff member failed to report abuse," said Jacqueline M. Byrd, Superintendent of Polk County Public Schools.
"Allegations of abuse must always be promptly reported to the proper authorities. Failure to do so is not only illegal, it places our students at risk of further abuse."
Police said Sanford's failure to report abuse was a third-degree felony.
His employment status wasn't addressed.