Former Hernando BOCC Candidate, Teacher Arrested for Unlawful Contact with Students

SUMTER COUNTY – A former candidate for Hernando Board of County Commissioners and South Sumter High School Teacher is behind bars tonight, after officials say he engaged in unlawful contact with a minor.

According to officials, on November 11, 2022, a student at South Sumter High School reported that 48-year-old Patrick Jason Sager engaged in inappropriate communications and physical contact.

The Sumter County Sheriff's Office conducted an investigation and discovered Sager engaged in unlawful contact with the victim via a social media app after school hours. The investigation also revealed Sager engaged in unlawful physical contact with the student.

While interviewing the witness, it was determined that the witness was a separate victim of unlawful physical contact by Jason Patrick Sager.

At the conclusion of the investigation, the Sumter County Sheriff's Office obtained an arrest warrant for Sager on November 16, 2022, for the following charges:

Transmission of Harmful Material to a Minor (2 counts)

Battery (4 counts)

This evening, Hernando County Sheriff's Office served the warrant on Jason Patrick Sager, who was taken into custody and will be booked into the Hernando County Detention Center.

Sager was issued a bond in the amount of $14,000.00 in accordance with the current bond schedule.

Any other victim or person that has information regarding inappropriate communication or physical contact with Jason Patrick Sager is urged to contact the Sumter County Sheriff's Office.

Sager lost his bid for a seat on the BOCC in 2012, amid accusations of having an extramarital affair.

The Hernando County Sheriff's Office has not released a statement into Sager's arrest.