Judge cites danger to community, orders ex-teacher Arin Hankerd held without bond
A judge ruled that former teacher Arin Hankerd was a threat to the community and ordered him held without bond one day after prosecutors filed a new charge against him, accusing him of having oral sex with a teen when she was a student at Mainland High School.
Hankerd, 43, of Ormond Beach, was already facing charges involving accusations he inappropriately touched a 15-year-old student when he was a teacher at Atlantic High School earlier this year.
On Tuesday, Hankerd was charged with unlawful sexual activity with a minor. That charge involves a then-17-year-old female student Hankerd met in 2019 when he was a physical education teacher at Mainland High School.
Previous reprimands against ex-teacher: District previously reprimanded ex-Atlantic High teacher in separate incident with student
Previous coverage: Ex-teacher accused of inappropriate conduct used school as 'hunting ground'
What we know: Teacher, coach at Atlantic High School accused of inappropriate contact with student. What we know
Hankerd had been free since Feb. 17 on $250,000 bail along with conditions, such as electronic monitoring, until his arrest Tuesday. His attorney said Hankerd paid a bondsman $25,000 to be released.
Circuit Judge Karen Foxman at a hearing Wednesday granted Assistant State Attorney Ashley Terwilleger's request to revoke Hankerd's bond and keep him locked up under pre-trial detention at the Volusia County Branch Jail.
Foxman noted that in the initial case, Hankerd had been accused of fondling while in the latest case, he was accused of having oral sex with the student, which was a "significant difference."
“More to the point, it is also showing a pattern that Mr. Hankerd has used his position of authority to prey on vulnerable victims,” Foxman said. "Mr. Hankerd is a threat to the community."
The latest charge stems from a woman who contacted police on Feb. 20, 2023, about a sexual offense in 2019 involving Hankerd, according to a motion filed Tuesday by Terwilleger.
Terwilleger told the judge that the parallels in the two cases were "astounding" and established Hankerd's danger to the community.
"You have two different public high schools in this community, in this county," Terwilleger said. "You've got two different female student victims ..."
She said in 2019 Hankerd invited the student to his house to perform the sexual act.
"And now, in 2023, he is getting so brazen that he’s willing to have the sexual acts occur at the school," Terwilleger said.
Hankerd's defense attorney, Aaron Delgado, said that Hankerd had not violated any conditions of his release since his initial arrest on Feb. 12. Delgado said Hankerd has not been convicted of any crime.
Delgado said Hankerd was already on very strict restrictions, at which point Hankerd nodded his head. Hankerd did not make any statements to the court.
Hankerd's initial arrest was based on accusations he had inappropriate and lewd contact with a student at Atlantic High School in Port Orange. Hankerd would meet the student in his portable classroom or in a storage room in the gym, according to documents.
Hankerd asked girl to change his name, be careful
The girl was a sophomore at Mainland High School when “Coach Hankerd” saw her in the gym with a Victoria’s Secret bag and told her she was too young to be “portraying” that bag, according to an affidavit. The student said Hankerd followed that with “flirty looks” throughout the year.
In the summer of her junior year, the student added Hankerd to her Facebook. At first, their conversations were platonic, but Hankerd started asking her for photos to see what she was wearing, which she said she took as "friendly." They messaged each other their ages, as well – she was 17 at the time and Hankerd was 39.
Hankerd spoke about her tan lines and complimented her bikini. The messaging continued and they started sending each other photos of themselves in their underwear.
In one exchange, according to the affidavit, Hankerd asked her to change his name on her phone.
“You have to be super careful. Even if we stay just friends with no benefits,” Hankerd wrote.
She changed his name from Arin to Erin, according to records.
The girl said that one night between Aug. 11, 2019, and Aug. 30, 2019, she went to Hankerd’s residence on Baymeadow Court in a gated community in Ormond Beach.
She said Hankerd inappropriately touched her and had her perform oral sex on him.
Afterward, Hankerd told her how special she was. She left because she felt uncomfortable, according to documents.
The woman, who is now in the military, contacted police to say that Hankerd had messaged her in August − the same month he met the 15-year-old at Atlantic High School.
On Aug. 10, 2022, Hankerd sent the woman a photo of himself on the same couch where he gave her a back rub in 2019, an affidavit stated. She asked him how many other girls received "back rubs" on the couch.
Hankerd responded: “Very few. You are definitely special.”
On Aug. 18, 2022, the woman asked Hankerd: “You like little girls?” Hankerd responded if under 30, yes, but if under 18, no.
The woman then messaged Hankerd saying he had talked to her when she was 17. He responded, “Allegedly."
Hankerd also messaged saying he was kind of glad they didn't have sex. When she asked why, he responded "Just a tricky situation."
She responded, “Because you worked at school?”
“Yes!” Hankerd replied.
Previous charges involving another student
Assistant State Attorney Ashley Terwilleger filed the following formal charges against Hankerd:
Two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a person 12 or older but younger than 16. Each is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison.
Traveling to meet a minor against student by an authority figure, also a first-degree felony.
Using a computer for lewd and lascivious exhibition by a person 18 years or older against a student by an authority figure, also a first-degree felony.
Offense against a student by authority figure, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Ex-teacher Arin Hankerd held without bond after new sex assault charge
