On Friday the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office arrested one of its own.
Clarence Thomas, a 24-four-year-old JSO Corrections Officer, was arrested Friday and charged with one count of sexual activity with a minor.
Thomas was a part-time football coach at Westside High School at the time of an alleged sexual relationship with a student.
Jacksonville Undersheriff Pat Ivey says the 17-year-old victim gave her side of the story on Thursday.
“The break in the case is you had a statement given by the victim that was deemed to be credible that was vetted through the state attorney’s office through a sworn statement,” Ivey said.
Back in April, the Duval County School Board Police Department launched an investigation. The school district’s report says Thomas admitted to having sex with a female student approximately 20 times. Thomas was fired from his coaching position back in May.
Ivey says Thomas worked as a JSO corrections officer for just over four years.
“Words can’t describe it,” Ivey said. “If you’ve lived this job long enough, which I have for over 20 years, you’re saddened because it’s a reality that this does happen. You just wish it wouldn’t.”
Florida law says the age of consent for sexual relations is 18. But a so-called “Romeo and Juliet” provision says 16- or 17-year-olds can consent as long as their partner is 23 or younger. Thomas was 24 at the time of the alleged relationship.
Two other Westside High School employees, a former dean and teacher, are also being investigated for allegedly having sex with students, but no arrests have been made in those cases.
