JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) — The former principal of Cottondale High School is coming forward after turning himself in for sexual misconduct with a minor.
At a press conference Friday afternoon, Ken Granger walked forward while holding hands with his wife.
Granger turned himself in to police Thursday night after being accused of sexual misconduct with a 16-year-old student.
He stepped down as principal in December. Now, he's also dropping out in the Board of Supervisors race.
ABC 27 asked Granger if he's denying the claims against him.
He chose not to comment. Instead, this is what he said:
"I stand facing my community in faith that as time progresses, the actions I've contributed to this very community in the many years of leadership served will speak louder than the allegations presented," Granger said.
Granger has his first court date on March 3.
A former Jackson County high school principal turned himself over to authorities Thursday night following allegations of sexual misconduct involving a student.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office says they received information that a local principal was having an inappropriate relationship with a student on December 2, 2019.
An investigation revealed that 35-year- old Kenyonis “Ken” Granger, who was the principal at Cottondale High School at the time, had been engaging in an inappropriate relationship with 16-year-old student.
During the investigation, deputies say they also discovered that Granger had been privately messaging the student since she was 14-years-old, however, it wasn’t until a year prior that Granger became "inappropriate."
JCSO says they obtained copies of messages exchanged between Granger and the student that backed up the student's statement.
When Granger was confronted by the Jackson County School Board about his inappropriate actions involving a student, he resigned as principal on December 1, 2019.
Late Thursday night, deputies say Granger turned himself in at the Jackson County Correctional Facility. He is facing charges for soliciting a romantic relationship with a student by authority figure.
Granger was also running for supervisor of elections in Jackson County. It's unclear if his campaign has been suspended following his arrest.
