Disgraced teacher Arin Hankerd sentenced to 21 years in prison, declared sexual predator

A former Volusia County teacher who groomed a pair of female students at two different high schools before engaging in sexual activities with them in separate cases was sentenced Friday to 21 years in prison.

Arin Hankerd, 44, must also serve 30 years of sex offender probation once he is released from prison. Hankerd did not appear to show any reaction when Circuit Judge Karen Foxman announced the sentence during the hearing at the S. James Foxman Justice Center in Daytona Beach.

Foxman also designated Hankerd a sexual predator.

Hankerd received 360 days credit for time served in the Volusia County Branch Jail awaiting sentencing.

Hankerd, who lived in Ormond Beach, was first arrested last year on accusations of inappropriately touching a 15-year-old student when he was a teacher at Atlantic High School. He met the student in his portable classroom or in a storage room in the gym.

After news of his arrest, a woman who had graduated from Mainland High School called police. The woman said that when she was a 17-year-old Mainland student, Hankerd had her visit him at his house and perform oral sex on him.

Hankerd was a teacher and assistant football coach at both schools.

Judge: Hankerd's text messages were 'very sexual'

At sentencing, Foxman said Hankerd showed a pattern of grooming and manipulating the two female students. The judge said there were text messages which showed Hankerd was “more than hinting” at trying to pick up the 15-year-old and get her away from her parents.

“These messages were very sexual in nature,” Foxman said.

Foxman said teachers are charged with teaching students and helping them reach their potential. They are entrusted with the students' safety at school. She said Hankerd violated that trust.

The judge said the two victims, one still a teenager, will likely forever be inhibited in their relationships because of Hankerd's actions.

The judge cited as mitigating factors, including testimony from a defense expert that Hankerd had been diagnosed with severe bipolar disorder. She also said Hankerd had entered a plea, eliminating the need for a trial and the need for further testimony from his former students.

Assistant State Attorney Ashley Terwilleger asked for a sentence of 45 years in prison. Hankerd's defense attorney, John Selden, asked for a prison sentence of 10 years followed by probation. Besides Selden, Hankerd was also represented by Aaron Delgado.

State sentencing guidelines called for a minimum sentence of 18.6 years in prison. And Hankerd faced a maximum of 186 years in prison if the charges were to run consecutively.

Hankerd apologizes to his victims

Hankerd, wearing an orange jail jumpsuit, stood before the judge and read a statement. At times, his voice became emotional.

“I have a plethora of people I feel the need to apologize to,” Hankerd said. “First and foremost are the two victims. I am deeply sorry for the hurt you have endured due to my actions.

“You both came to me needing help and advice and I failed you miserably,” Hankerd said. “I allowed the relationships to go far beyond the boundaries of what I know was appropriate.”

Hankerd apologized to the girls’ parents, saying he could only imagine “the pain, fear and anger” he had caused due to his “mistakes.”

Hankerd also said he let down his family and his own son and daughter lost a father from their daily lives.

He said his children had to change their last name because of “publicity and bullying.”

And he said he regretted no longer being able to do what he loved, coach football. Hankerd said he started coaching when he was 19 and the head coach welcomed him to the “fraternity of coaching.”

“I let this fraternity down,” Hankerd said.

He said he was diagnosed with bipolar with manic depression and that made him understand many things that had happened in his life.

Atlantic High School student ridiculed by classmates

The student from Atlantic High School did not testify. But Dr. Richard Greer,  a psychologist called by the state, testified about his findings after he speaking to the girl.

Greer said the victim described being alone with Hankerd and his being very sexual with her. She said it scared her and she had thoughts of being violated.

She told Greer she would have intrusive, unwanted thoughts, including “night terrors” in which she would wake up very upset but would not remember why the next day.

He said the students at Atlantic High School were aware of what happened and criticized her several times for being in any kind of relationship with Hankerd. She did not want to be exposed to the teasing and the ridicule and memory of the traumatic event so she left Atlantic High School and is attending another high school.

Greer said she will always have these bad memories. She will have more difficult trusting men, forming intimate relationships and will have to deal with anxiety.

Former Mainland High School student testified in court

The former Mainland High School student testified via Zoom, saying that Hankerd manipulated her.

She said she confided in him. And that Hankerd would always message her and try to build trust and an emotional connection.

“He’s way too good at what he’s done, grooming me. He’s a master manipulator,” she said.

She said she felt disgusted after the incident with Hankerd.

“I felt ashamed and did not want anyone to know what happened. I stayed silent,” she said.

She said she is going to therapy and has trust issues with males in authority.

She said she joined the military and went into law enforcement in hopes that she could speak out for victims.

The former student said she felt guilty when she heard the news of Hankerd’s arrest. She felt that had she spoken out about her case, she could have saved another family from going through the same pain.

She said she does not think that Hankerd believes he has done anything wrong.

She asked the judge to sentence Hankered to the maximum.

State Attorney: 'Predator of epic proportions'

According to the State Attorney's Office, Hankerd pled to several felonies, including "two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a person 12 or older but younger than 16 against student by authority figure; traveling to meet a minor against student by authority figure; lewd and lascivious exhibition via computer against student by authority figure; unlawful sexual activity with a minor against student by authority figure; and two counts of offense against student by authority figure."

State Attorney R.J. Larizza stated after the sentencing

"Coaches have significant sway over the athletes and students they serve," Larizza said in the statement. "The defendant chose to use his influence to sexually exploit and manipulate our victims. His betrayal of their trust and vulnerability makes him a predator of epic proportions."

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Disgraced ex-Mainland, Atlantic teacher sentenced to 21 years prison