Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Seminole Ridge assistant football coach arrested, accused of inappropriate relationship with student
Seminole Ridge assistant football coach Keith Gruber was arrested and accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a former Seminole Ridge student, according to the Palm Beach County School District and Palm Beach County Sheriff ’s Office jail records.
Gruber, 36, was arrested and charged with one count of lewd or lascivious behavior on a child age 12 to 16 and one count of an offense against a student by an authority figure, according to jail records.
“Coach Gruber will not be returning to Seminole Ridge High School and risks losing the opportunity to ever obtain professional teaching credentials upon the conclusion of the court proceedings and a professional standards investigation,” Seminole Ridge principal James Campbell wrote in an email to parents Tuesday morning.
Campbell urged students and parents to avoid discussing the arrest in order to protect the student’s identity.
Gruber’s LinkedIn profile lists him as the Seminole Ridge head junior varsity football coach and an assistant coach for the varsity team.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Gruber, who worked as a substitute teacher, allegedly had sex with a 15-year-old Seminole Ridge student in the school’s weight room during school hours on Feb. 6.
On Feb. 14, Palm Beach County School District Police received a tip that a student had sex with a coach at the school, and police began investigating, according to the affidavit. On Feb. 15, police met with the student, who described the alleged incident, according to the affidavit.
On Monday afternoon, police set up a controlled phone call between the student and Gruber, and police say the student told Gruber she was pregnant and needed money for an abortion. Gruber asked for proof, and the student asked, “So if I show you proof, you’ll give me money for an abortion?” Gruber said, “Yeah,” according to the affidavit.
Gruber’s bail was set at $100,000, and he was ordered to have no contact with the student, Seminole Ridge and any children under the age of 18. He was also ordered to not possess any weapons.
Attempts to reach Gruber for comment were unsuccessful.