Former Pasco Assistant Principal Sentenced For Molesting Students

TAMPA, FL — A former Pasco County assistant principal has been sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for sexually molesting students during his 13 years as a teacher and administrator.

Tampa U.S. District Judge Mary S. Scriven sentenced Kyle Dale Ritsema, 36, of Land O’Lakes, last week for producing, distributing and possessing child pornography. Ritsema pleaded guilty on Dec. 21, 2018.

According to Homeland Security Investigations, in 2014, Ritsema enticed a 14-year-old child on the mobile application “Grindr.” The HSI said Ritsema had sex with the child on at least five occasions over the course of a year and produced pornographic images of the child. Ritsema shared the images with other people, including another employee of Pasco County Schools.

A subsequent investigation revealed that Ritsema had targeted other minors, including former students, and enticed them for sex. On several occasions he sexually abused them.

Ritsema’s conversations also revealed that he is HIV positive and that, on multiple occasions, he did not disclose his HIV status despite having unprotected sex with unknowing children and adults.

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Beginning in March 2017, and continuing until his arrest, Ritsema was the assistant principal at Cypress Creek Middle High School. Before holding that position, he was the assistant principal at Pine View Middle School (appointed in July 2015), an assistant principal administrative intern at River Ridge Middle School (appointed in January 2015), and a math teacher and math coach at Paul R. Smith Middle School, Gulf Highland Elementary School and Seven Springs Middle School (beginning in 2006).

“Our communities are safer today with this deviant child sexual predator behind bars, thanks to our HSI special agents, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Middle District Florida U.S. Attorney’s Office,” said HSI Tampa Special Agent in Charge James C. Spero. “This criminal’s former position of trust makes this case all the more egregious, and we hope his sentencing can bring a small measure of closure to the innocent victims and their families.”

This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Tampa Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Frank Murray.

Anyone who had unprotected sexual contact with Ritsema, or any person who was, or knows of someone who may have been, a possible child victim, is urged to contact HSI at 1-866-DHS-2ICE or fill out the HSI tip form.