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Tyler Eden (Polk County Sheriff’s Office).
A Florida football coach is accused of cornering female teenage students at the school where he worked, talking to them about sex and even commenting to one of them about her undergarments, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
Tyler James Eden, 31, is charged with lewd offense against a student by an authority figure, lewd and lascivious touching of a minor, and voyeurism.
In a probable cause affidavit reviewed by Law&Crime, authorities say that Eden had ostensibly been in contact with the students about community service hours, but after getting them alone, allegedly had inappropriate discussions with them about sexual subjects. All of the alleged victims’ names are redacted from the affidavit.
When walking with one girl, an 18-year-old, Eden reportedly asked her what she wanted to do when she graduated from school. She told him she wanted to be an OB-GYN. In response, Eden allegedly laughed and made a lewd comment about oral sex. The student then declined Eden’s invitation to do community service.
Another 18-year-old student separately joined him in the locker room to discuss community service, but their conversation quickly took a turn, the affidavit said. According to deputies, Eden told this student that there were no cameras in the locker rooms and how it would be “easy to do certain things in there.” He also allegedly told her she had to leave because his mistress was on her way. According to deputies, he described himself as popular because he’s a football coach and that another teacher wanted to have sex with him in the locker room.
A third student, this one 16 years old, said that Eden approached her about helping him out with athletic chores to fulfill her community service requirement She agreed, going to the locker room to sort out football helmets. Eden allegedly told the student that a teacher wanted to have sex with him in the locker room, deputies say. The victim told Eden she didn’t want to discuss that with him, the affidavit said, but Eden allegedly kept going, saying he was still married but wanted to have relations with the teacher.
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The girl returned the next day for community service, helping him break down boxes, according to officials. As she was working, Eden allegedly inappropriately touched the girl when she asked for his help.
“As the victim was helping Eden break down boxes, her hoodie jacket got caught on one of the boxes and the zipper broke open,” deputies wrote. “The hoodie served as her top, so she asked Mr. Eden for a T-shirt that she could put on, as she wished to cover herself up. Eden responded by reaching out and unzipping her jacket all the way, at which point she told him that she was uncomfortable — the only clothing she was wearing underneath the hoodie was a bra. Eden repeatedly tried to fix the jacket, but eventually handed her a t shirt. The victim walked into a separate locker room area to change. When she turned around, he was standing right behind her, watching her. He then complimented her bra, and told her repeatedly there were no cameras there.”
The girl told her parents about what happened and her parents told school administrators, authorities said. Eden allegedly told investigators he would only speak with his attorney present.
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At one point, the affidavit indicates that Eden’s alleged victims may have crossed paths between his alleged bouts of invasive comments and questions.
“[A victim] stated that as she was entering the locker room, another female student was leaving,” the affidavit said. “[The victim] didn’t know who the student was, but that she had a weird look on her face and thought as if something was wrong.”
Authorities arrested Eden on Wednesday, online records show. He had a first appearance in court on Thursday and is scheduled for an arraignment to take place on May 20. Eden remains at the Polk County jail.
“It’s unconscionable that an educator and coach would engage in this kind of behavior with students. This individual has shown that he cannot be trusted, and deserves to face justice for his actions,” Polk County Public Schools Superintendent Fred Heid said in a statement released through the sheriff’s office. “We commend the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for their thorough investigation, and for taking action to protect students.”
