Article published Jun 7, 2005
Sarasota High coach arrested
The two charges against Walter Gilbert of sexual battery on a minor stem from the investigation of a co-worker.
By SARAH ABRUZZESE
SARASOTA -- A Sarasota High School assistant football coach and campus aide has been arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a student.
Walter Gilbert was arrested and released on a $25,000 bail Monday after being charged with two counts of sexual battery of a minor. Gilbert said Monday that he is "innocent."
The charges stem from an investigation into Gilbert's co-worker, John A. Jones, who was arrested three weeks ago on charges of raping a 17-year-old student at Sarasota High School.
According to police reports:
Gilbert, 52, began the relationship with the student at the beginning of the school year by flirting with her and kissing her. He even bought her three pairs of thong underwear and asked to take pictures of her in them.
Gilbert had Jones serve as lookout when he had sex with the girl. Jones, 40, had sex with the girl after Gilbert "had Jones participate on one occasion by having sex with the victim while all three were in a room."
Both Gilbert, who began working for the school district in 1999, and Jones have been suspended.
"If the charges are substantiated, there is no response other than to say the behavior was an abhorrent criminal violation of the code of conduct," said Bob Earley, an associate superintendent of schools for Sarasota County.
After his family brought him home from the county jail, Gilbert said, "one word," emphasizing it as he held up a finger: "Innocent."
Gilbert is enshrined in the American Football Association's Minor League/Semi-Pro Hall of Fame. He was the fourth member to be inducted under the youth football category. He is president of the Sarasota Ringling Redskins football league and is a past president of the Sarasota NAACP. Gilbert's cousin and one of his former players, Larry Kennedy Jr., describes Gilbert as a mentor and "my family."
"It's hard to believe. I don't know the girl or anything like that. It is a hard story to believe because he is not that kind of guy," said Kennedy, a former free agent for the Miami Dolphins.
Three years ago, Gilbert sued the city after police slammed him to the ground during an arrest on a misdemeanor charge of obstruction of justice.
It took 28 stitches to close cuts on Gilbert's lips and above his right eye after the police tackled him. He also broke a bone in his leg when he fell.
The charge was dropped after the state attorney's office ruled that the officers had no reason to stop Gilbert in the first place.
