A newly released report from the Lee County Sheriff's Office is providing new details regarding the arrest of Cape Coral's Mariner High School basketball coach and teacher James Harris.
The report details a relationship that Harris struck up with the underage student via text message during the summer months of 2016. According to the report, that relationship turned sexual in nature last November when Harris summoned the student to his classroom where he groped, kissed and fondled her.
A few days later, the report says Harris summoned her to his classroom again. But this time they had sex on a desk in his classroom. The sexual encounters continued both in the classroom at a home in Northwest Cape Coral that Harris shared with roommates.
The report indicates Harris had sex with the student at least eight times between November and February 1st. A Crimestoppers tip led to the investigating into Harris' actions. After the student confirmed the relationship to investigators earlier this week, Harris was arrested.
Harris is currently in the Lee County jail, while his Mariner High School basketball team takes the court Friday night. The team will be without both Harris and an assistant volunteer coach, who was also dismissed according to the school district.
A district spokesperson has not indicated whether that dismissal was related to the Harris investigation.
