Palm Harbor University volunteer band coach arrested on sex charges

PALM HARBOR -- A 22-year-old volunteer high school band coach was arrested Monday on charges of having inappropriate sexual contact with two 15-year-old girls, both band members at Palm Harbor University High School.

According to detectives, 22-year-old Ryan C. Wilborn of Clearwater became acquainted with the girls through one of his family members and then developed relationships with each of them through the school, where he is a volunteer band coach.

Detectives began investigating Sunday after a parent of one of the girls reported the crime. Detectives later identified a second victim.

Detectives say Wilborn engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with one of the victims in September 2007, and the investigation revealed that he engaged in sexual intercourse with the other on several occasions between September and December 2007. The places where Wilborn and the victims had sexual contact included one of the victim's homes, a grocery store parking lot and on the campus of the high school itself.

Wilborn's defense attorney said today that people "should wait until we actually see the facts" before drawing any conclusions about his client, whom he said is a student at the University of South Florida.

"I think when the full facts are developed it will show the Sheriff's Office has exaggerated what happened and that, secondly, any statements he made were made in a coercive atmosphere which we will detail later," attorney George Tragos said.

Authorities say Wilborn admitted his actions when he was confronted by detectives. He was arrested on one count each of lewd and lascivious molestation, and lewd and lascivious battery about 8:30 p.m. Monday. He has been released after posting $40,000 bail.

Detectives think there may be additional victims who have not been identified. Anyone with information regarding this investigation or the suspect is asked to contact sheriff's Detective Brad Carrozza of the Crimes Against Children Unit at (727) 582-6200.

Abhi Raghunathan, Jonathan Abel and Jose Cardenas, Times staff writers