South Fort Myers High student, 16, pleads not guilty to alleged bathroom sex scandal role

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The 16-year-old arrested Friday in connection with a bathroom sex scandal at South Fort Myers High School pleaded not guilty in an appearance Saturday morning in Lee County court.

William Scott, a student at the school, is facing charges of cruelty towards a child, allowing a child to engage in a sexual act, and possession of obscene material for videotaping the incident, officials said.

Several boys are accused of having had sex with a 15-year-old girl in a school bathroom earlier this month. The incident, which has garnered national attention, led to the suspension of five students, and another 11 were disciplined via other means, the Lee County School District said.

The judge on Saturday gave Scott 21 days of home detention. He won’t be allowed at the school and can’t have contact with the girl or anyone else implicated in the case during that three-week period. Scott is also barred from unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 15. His internet usage will be limited to school work only.

Lee County School District defense attorney Lance Dunford, who’s not affiliated with the case, provided insight for WINK News.

“It kind of seems like a knee-jerk reaction, kind of a public outcry type of arrest,” Dunford said. “It does shock me personally that there was, if there was going to be an arrest, it was just for one person.”

The next court date for Scott is set for June 13. He and his family declined comment.