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Valrico Soccer Coach Faces 7 Counts Of Sex With Minor

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By MIKE WELLS and MARK DOUGLAS, The Tampa Tribune News Channel 8

Published: February 1, 2008

Two male teachers were removed from Hillsborough County classrooms this week amid unrelated allegations of inappropriate conduct with female students.

Ronald Lewis

Newsome High School's boys soccer coach, Ronnie Lewis, 37, was arrested about 3 p.m. Thursday at his house, 1505 Crooked Stick Drive in Valrico, and charged with seven counts of sexual activity with a minor, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office said. He posted bail and left the Orient Road Jail early this morning.

Lewis was removed from a classroom Wednesday after allegations surfaced that he had an inappropriate relationship with a senior student who was 17 years old and is now 18, said Hillsborough County School District spokeswoman Linda Cobbe.

The sheriff's office said Lewis and the girl had intercourse seven times last year, either at his home or in his vehicle, between Feb. 27 and Nov. 24.

In an unrelated incident, a Plant High School physics teacher was removed from class Thursday after he was accused of sending inappropriate e-mail to a 17-year-old student

The school district suspended Plant teacher Christopher Gillis, 22, with pay pending an investigation, Cobbe said.

Regarding Lewis, on Jan. 19 he told a juvenile he had a sexual relationship with the female student since February 2007, the sheriff's office said.

The school district's office of professional standards is investigating Lewis, who also is a computer lab aide at the school, Cobbe said. She would not elaborate on that investigation.

Cobbe said the district contacted the sheriff's office Thursday about the allegations against Lewis.

School officials first learned of the allegations Wednesday from a parent, Cobbe said.

Lewis was suspended with pay pending the outcome of the investigation, she said.

The district hired Lewis in July 2004 as a substitute teacher. He became the boys head soccer coach at Newsome in July.

Lewis had previously worked as an assistant coach for the girls soccer team at Bloomingdale High School.

He had also been a coach in the Brandon Area Youth Soccer League. He was fired in October for poor performance, said Steve Jarosz, president of the league's board.

Gillis was hired at Plant High in September. The district is reviewing his computer to see whether the e-mail case should be reported to law enforcement, Cobbe said.

Officials first became aware of accusations against him late Wednesday when an assistant principal saw the female student in a hallway and asked how she was doing, Cobbe said. The student then reported the e-mail.

Reporter Neil Johnson contributed to this report. Reporter Mike Wells can be reached at (813) 259-7839 or mwells@tampatrib.com.

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