News Summary

The arrest of former Olympic Heights High School basketball coach Charles Keith Mackrey has left the Boca Raton community in disbelief. Mackrey faces serious allegations involving an inappropriate relationship with a female student that began in 2022 and included unwanted touching, invasive communication, and attempts to conceal their interactions. Following a victim’s report to authorities, a criminal investigation was launched, leading to his charges. The incident has raised concerns about student safety and trust in educators within the community.

Boca Raton Community Shocked by Arrest of Former Basketball Coach

Boca Raton, Florida, has recently been shaken by the arrest of a former beloved high school basketball coach. Charles Keith Mackrey, a 51-year-old ex-coach and teacher at Olympic Heights High School, has been taken into custody amid serious allegations involving an inappropriate relationship with a female student. The news has left many in the community feeling perplexed and troubled as more details come to light.

Alarming Allegations Unveiled

The allegations against Mackrey surfaced after a brave student, along with her father, reported multiple incidents of inappropriate behavior to a school district officer on August 23, 2024. Reports indicate that the inappropriate conduct, which included unwanted touching and inappropriate communication, spanned a significant time frame—from August 2022 to May 2024.

According to the victim, the inappropriate encounters occurred in both Mackrey’s classroom and his coach’s office. Mackrey is said to have initially obtained the girl’s phone number during a recruitment drive—a seemingly innocent invitation for students interested in becoming basketball managers for his team. But what followed was anything but innocent.

Invasive Communication and Late-Night Texting

After creating a group chat with the female students who expressed interest in being managers, Mackrey allegedly began reaching out to this particular student separately, sending messages that crossed the line into inappropriate territory. The victim reported that these communications escalated to late-night FaceTime calls and text messages that made her uncomfortable.

Further complicating the situation, the victim stated that Mackrey urged her to delete certain messages on WhatsApp after his wife had seen them, which only compounded her distress. The pressure to conceal their interactions added a layer of complexity to an already troubling situation.

A Struggle for Help

In January 2025, the student decided to take action and contacted the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to disclose the inappropriate touching. However, she expressed feeling dismissed during her interaction with the DCF investigator, who she felt did not take her claims seriously. After an investigation that ultimately yielded no further action, it was clear that the student felt a strong need for her voice to be heard.

Undeterred, the victim reached out to the assistant athletic director at her school. That conversation proved to be a turning point, leading to the filing of a report with DCF and initiating Title IX paperwork to address the allegations more formally. This crucial step helped launch a criminal investigation into Mackrey’s conduct, raising significant concerns about his actions.

Details of the Inappropriate Behavior

As investigators delved deeper, they found numerous claims of unwanted touching and inappropriate comments, with the victim indicating that such behavior occurred between 15 to 20 times over the two-year span. It became clear that Mackrey’s comments were not only unsettling but also suggested a deeply inappropriate relationship. In particular, he allegedly made concerning statements about wanting to run away with the student when she turned 18.

Community Response and Legal Consequences

In light of the situation, Principal Kelly Mills Burke sent a letter to the families of the school community, confirming that Mackrey had not been employed by the school for over a year. This news has alarmed many parents and community members, prompting discussions about the safety of students and trust in educators.

Mackrey has been charged with one count of an authority figure engaging in a romantic relationship with a student, classified as a felony in the state of Florida. He now awaits legal proceedings with a bond set at $20,000. It’s worth noting that Mackrey was also known for his role in co-owning a youth basketball training program that worked with young athletes as young as 8 years old, further complicating the community’s feelings about his arrest.

As the investigation continues, Boca Raton residents are left grappling with the implications of this incident, hoping for swift justice and a renewed focus on student safety within their schools.

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