BY JENNIFER CABRERA

ALACHUA, Fla. – In a recent development, legal proceedings have been halted against three administrators from Santa Fe High School, who were previously accused of not reporting alleged misconduct by baseball coach Travis Yeckring involving several female students over several years.

Back in July 2025, complaints were formally lodged by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) against Michele R. Faulk, a teacher and then athletic director at the school; David “Mac” McLean Rendek, who served as assistant principal; and Timothy E. Wright, the school’s former principal. They faced charges of child neglect and failing to report suspected child abuse, both serious offenses. While Wright has since retired, Faulk and Rendek were placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.

For more detailed coverage, refer to the Alachua Chronicle’s original report on this case.

On January 7, 2026, State Attorney Brian Kramer decided to drop all charges, explaining in a memorandum that there was no conclusive evidence of a specific criminal act of child abuse that would have mandated reporting from the administrators. As a result, they were not legally obligated to report the allegations outlined in the sworn complaints.

Allegations stem from the conduct of former baseball coach Travis Yeckring

At the time of the reported incidents, Travis Yeckring was a teacher and baseball coach at Santa Fe High School (SFHS), and the memorandum notes, “It is clear from the evidence that Mr. Yeckring’s conduct was inappropriate, reprehensible, and a likely violation of school policies.”

The memorandum states that FDLE consulted with the State Attorney’s office during the investigation, and “the agents explicitly stated that Mr. Yeckring had not committed any provable criminal act.” No criminal charges have been filed against Yeckring, and the agents “made it clear that no criminal case is forthcoming” against Yeckring “for any charge.”

According to the memorandum, an Assistant State Attorney told FDLE that it would be legally and practically impossible to charge any of the administrators with a criminal act unless there was sufficient evidence to show that they knew Yeckring had committed an act of child abuse and they failed to report it. However, FDLE asked for additional research “because Yeckring’s conduct was reprehensible and they felt that there should be a way to charge the individuals… for failing to report that behavior to the Department of Children and Families” (DCF).

Allegations against Yeckring

The sworn complaint alleges that Yeckring communicated with female students on social media, engaged in “awkward” conversations with female students, inappropriately stared at female students, spoke with female students about their romantic relationships, showed inappropriate photos to female students, stood too close to female students, sent “flirty” messages to a female student and a recent graduate, complimented a female student on her appearance, purchased food for female students, commented on a female student’s undergarments, invited female students to his apartment and to a coffee shop, loitered in the dean’s office to talk to female students, and unnecessarily and repeatedly accompanied a female student office aide around the school. One student reported that Yeckring was widely referred to as “Pedo Yeck.”

FDLE agents were concerned with the “cumulative nature” of Yeckring’s actions

The memorandum states that FDLE agents said their concern “was not tied to any single allegation but rather to the cumulative nature of all the incidents reported to the school administration… In their view, the accumulation of these incidents should have led the administration to suspect potential child abuse… FDLE acknowledged that none of the individual allegations, standing alone, would support a child abuse charge or trigger the reporting requirement.”

The memorandum continues, “Mr. Yeckring’s alleged conduct is clear and well known. His conduct with the students at issue in this matter was in all cases inappropriate, but, according to FDLE’s investigation, did not violate any Florida Statute… [T]here must be either ‘known’ or ‘suspected’ child abuse or neglect to trigger the reporting requirement.”

“Novel legal theory”

The State Attorney’s Office states that the FDLE moved forward on a “novel legal theory” that Yeckring’s pattern of conduct “should have caused the defendant(s) to suspect child abuse” and report it to DCF, but the State Attorney’s Office found “no legal support for this new and novel legal theory.”

“Consistent with… ‘grooming’ behavior”

The memorandum acknowledges that Yeckring’s behavior “appears to be consistent with what law enforcement would describe as ‘grooming’ behavior… Unfortunately, the Florida Legislature has been asked to address and criminalize grooming behavior and had thus far declined to do so.”

FDLE also failed to report the suspect child abuse

The memorandum notes that law enforcement officers also have a duty to report suspected child abuse, but “FDLE has never reported the ‘cumulative suspected child abuse’ to DCF, nor has any parent of any child at issue here, nor has the Office of the State Attorney made any such report. This confirms the consensus that Mr. Yeckring’s conduct, while inappropriate, reprehensible, and a violation of school policy, was not criminal.”

“This office will not be moving forward with the prosecution of the named defendants”

The memorandum concludes, “Given FDLE’s explicit acknowledgment that no probable cause exists to charge Mr. Yeckring with an underlying act of child abuse, the State Attorney’s office concludes that the essential element of ‘known or suspected child abuse’ necessary for the prosecution of the defendant(s) under FS 39.205 and FS 827.03(2)(d) is legally insufficient. Therefore, this office will not be moving forward with the prosecution of the named defendant(s) based on the current evidence and legal theory provided by FDLE, and the case will be closed.”

Alachua County Public Schools has not yet responded to our question about whether Rendek and Faulk have been reinstated.