Former Oakleaf High School coach Benjamin Davis White has been placed on probation following a plea deal that significantly reduced the charges stemming from his 2023 arrest.
White, who previously served as Oakleaf’s defensive coordinator and head girls’ weightlifting coach, faced serious allegations of inappropriate conduct involving students but managed to avoid the most severe consequences through a negotiated settlement.
Authorities arrested White, 40, in August 2023 on a felony charge of lewd and lascivious behavior involving a student between the ages of 12 and 15.
Court documents revealed that White allegedly exchanged inappropriate text messages and engaged in misconduct with multiple Oakleaf students, with reported incidents taking place between November 2021 and May 2022.
The heavily redacted sheriff’s report indicated that several students had come forward with allegations of improper touching and explicit conversations.
Investigators suggested there may have been multiple victims ranging from 15 to 17 years old.
At the time of his arrest, White was released on a $100,000 bond and was barred from contact with minors.
He resigned from his brief tenure as head football coach at Pedro Menendez High School just months before his arrest.
In September 2025, more than two years after his arrest, White accepted a plea deal for a lesser charge of child abuse without great bodily harm.
Under the agreement, adjudication was officially withheld, sparing White a felony conviction. Instead, the court sentenced him to three years of probation with strict conditions, including:
- Pleading guilty to the amended charge of child abuse.
- Permanent forfeiture of his teaching license.
- No unsupervised contact with minors other than his own children.
- Mandatory mental health evaluation and treatment.
- Travel restrictions require parole officer notification.
- Payment of court costs and fees totaling approximately \$300.
Florida law outlines that convictions under this statute can result in up to five years in prison, five years of probation, and $5,000 in fines.
However, White’s plea arrangement allowed him to avoid prison time, sex offender registration, and the permanent label of a convicted felon.
With adjudication withheld, White’s record will not reflect a felony conviction if he successfully completes probation.
This means that after three years, he could potentially seek opportunities to work or volunteer around children again, raising concerns within the Oakleaf community.
Despite his plea deal, White’s name and image reportedly still appeared on some of Oakleaf High School’s social media posts at the time of publication, further fueling debate among parents and residents.
The Clay County District Schools previously confirmed that investigations began immediately after White’s resignation in February 2023, but declined to comment further, citing privacy concerns for the victims and ongoing legal matters.
White’s case has drawn significant attention, not only because of his long coaching history across several Florida schools but also due to the legal outcome that allowed him to avoid the most severe penalties.
