Former SPHS track coach accused of having sex with teen

ST. PETERSBURG -- Lee Edward Fictum, a former track coach at St. Petersburg High School, has been accused of having a sexual relationship with a then-16-year-old student.

Fictum (pictured), 32, was arrested Monday on a charge of unlawful sexual activity with a minor and booked into the Pinellas County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Authorities say Fictum began the inappropriate relationship with the teen in spring 2007 while he coached her on the track team. The relationship reportedly became sexual when the student returned after summer break.

Fictum would skip work to pick her up from school to spend time with her before they both would attend track practice, according to court records.

The relationship was discovered by the victim's father, who discovered an online chat between the two on the track team's Web site, records state. At that point, he confronted his daughter, who acknowledged having a sexual relationship with the coach, records state.

The father then confronted the coach and told him to "man up" and accompany him to the police station, which Fictum did, records state.

Times staff writer

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