Freedom High Coach Accused Of Having Sex With Student

The 48-year-old volunteer cross country coach from Freedom High School has been jailed following accusations of sexual misconduct with a 17-year-old female student.

According to an arrest report from the Tampa Police Department, Dwight Lamont Smith of Tampa engaged in sexual activity with the student twice while the cross country team was in Gainesville for a September meet. Smith is also accused of giving the girl vodka and orange juice before giving her a key to his hotel room, the arrest report states.

A similar incident also happened when the team traveled to the Titusville area for a meet, the report said.

On Nov. 11, Smith is also accused of showing up at the girl’s home unannounced while her parents were out. The girl told detectives the visit made her uncomfortable.

“After this incident, she started to realize that their relationships was wrong and that it could not continue so she decided to report the relationship to her school principal,” the arrest report said.

She did just that, the report noted, and the principal notified police.

Smith was brought into custody on Monday. He now faces two counts of sexual assault by a custodian, according to Hillsborough County Jail records. He was being held Tuesday in lieu of $150,000 bond.

Smith was released from his position as a temporary classroom assistant on Nov. 12 after the allegations surfaced, the school district confirmed.

Booking photo courtesy of the Hillsborough County Jail