An unapproved, volunteer assistant coach for the Okeechobee (Fla.) High School girls’ basketball team has been removed from her position and arrested for supplying the team with alcohol and marijuana.
According to CBS 12 News, the volunteer coach, Jasmine Shanks, had never been approved by the school, nor had she applied for the position.
The parent of a student-athlete first reported suspicious activity on Jan. 23, when their child returned home intoxicated. It was then discovered that Shanks had been inviting the student-athletes to an off-campus residence where she provided drugs and alcohol, and ensured the student-athletes “deleted related photos and videos and encouraged them to block each other on social media.”
Shanks has been charged with three counts of interference with child custody and one count of tampering with evidence. Throughout the investigation, police discovered video evidence confirming the allegations.
Following Shanks’ arrest, Okeechobee High School officials terminated the head girls’ basketball coach as well, citing oversight and policy compliance violations.
In a statement, the school said, “The Okeechobee County School District is aware of the ongoing criminal investigation being conducted by the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office regarding allegations involving juvenile students associated with Okeechobee High School girls’ basketball. First and foremost, the safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority. We are deeply concerned by the allegations described by the Sheriff’s Office and are committed to cooperating fully with law enforcement as this investigation continues. Based on information confirmed during the Sheriff’s Office investigation, one adult involved was not an approved volunteer, not an employee, and not an authorized coach with Okeechobee High School or the School District, and had not applied for any such role. The Sheriff’s Office further indicated that this individual’s presence and interactions with students occurred without the knowledge or consent of school administration.”
