SHERIFFBradford County

Gordon Smith, Sheriff

Press Release
09/21/2021

Bradford County School Employee Arrested

On September 16th, 2021, the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office received information
from a student at Bradford High School regarding inappropriate text messages she had
observed on her friend’s phone. The texts were being sent from a Bradford School
District employee/coach, to a high school student that contained sexually explicit
language.

Detectives first interviewed the victim while her parents were present. She denied
any inappropriate behavior occurred between she and the suspect, stating they were
just friends. Detectives then proceeded to the suspect’s residence to interview her. The
suspect was cooperative with the detectives and admitted to sending sexually explicit
text messages to the victim’s phone. Upon a secondary interview with the victim, in the
presence of her mother, she admitted to having a more involved relationship with the
suspect then she had previously stated.

Detectives presented their case to the State Attorney’s Office and a warrant was
signed by Judge J. Williams, who issued a $75,000.00 bond. The suspect turned herself
in at the Bradford County Jail on Monday September 20th , 2021 at approximately
9:30pm and posted bond. She is currently out of jail pending her first court appearance
that is to be determined.

Suspect: Lainie Kay Rodgers D.O.B. 4/23/97

Charges: Transmission of Harmful Material to a Minor by Electronic Device, and

Authority Figure Soliciting/Engaging in Lewd Conduct with a Student

Major Brad Smith

Bradford County Sheriff’s Office
Office (904)966-6303 or Cell (352)427-5944

P.O. Box 400 Starke, FL 32091

945-B N. Temple Ave, Starke, FL 32091
Telephone: 904-966-6910 - Fax: 904-966-6160