Sexual misconduct allegation leads Southeastern University athletic trainer to give up license

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Univ. from the South East. sports coach accused of sexual misconduct

Haley Hinds Reports

LAKELAND, Fla – The head athletic coach of Southeastern University at Lakeland has voluntarily relinquished his license following a sexual misconduct complaint filed nearly a year ago by a 23-year-old volleyball player. years.

The volleyball player filed the complaint in December 2020 with the Florida Department of Health.

According to the investigation report, the woman injured her quad muscle while playing volleyball. She was heading to the training hall to put some heat on her injury when head coach Jem Sirrine insisted he provide her with neuromuscular electronic stimulation (STEM) treatment.

The woman alleged that Sirrine put her hand into her spandex and shifted the spandex and her underwear to the side and exposed her vagina for an “absolutely unnecessary period”. He then allegedly placed the STIM pad nowhere near the site of the injury, according to the documents.

According to the report, Sirrine removed the pads once it was determined the machine was not working properly and, in the process, exposed her vagina for the second time.

In a Lakeland police report, the woman said Sirrine exposed her a total of three times during treatment.

When the woman left the room, she told Florida Department of Health investigators that Sirrine was sitting “provocatively”.

“She came to him asking for help and treatment,” said Adam Horowitz, the woman’s lawyer. “She felt raped.”

The woman informed the coach of the volleyball team and a human resources representative of the alleged incident with Sirrine. She also reported the allegations to the Lakeland Police Department.

In the police report filed on November 12, 2020, she said she wanted to press charges and that “there had been a similar report from another girl against Jem about two weeks ago.”

The Florida State Athletic Coaching Council met on October 6 to discuss the allegations. Sirrine was not present, waived a finding of probable cause and signed a voluntary disciplinary waiver of her license.

The council ordered that his surrender of the license be accepted. As part of the surrender, Sirrine agreed to never apply for a new athletic trainer’s license in Florida.

“It was a great achievement when he gave up his license because she knew she was potentially protecting people in the future,” Horowitz said.

Southeastern University Director of Communications Dana Davis said in a statement: “Because Southeastern University takes sexual assault allegations very seriously, the University took immediate action and suspended Sirrine as soon as possible. that she learned of the complaint. Thirteen days later, after Southeastern investigated the complaint, Mr. Sirrine’s employment at Southeastern [was] ended.”

SEU made no further comments regarding a possible second complaint.

FOX 13 News has contacted Sirrine’s attorney, Lance Leider, but has not received any comments for this story.

Although Lakeland Police have filed two affidavits of simple misdemeanor arrest, at this point no criminal charges have been filed against Sirrine. The state attorney’s office said the case was still under review and did not yet have a hearing date.

“Getting criminal justice is very important to her. We are keeping our fingers crossed that the Polk County State Attorney’s Office prosecute,” Horowitz said. “We are exploring the possibility of a civil lawsuit against the university.”

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