Football coach, DeSoto youth counselor admitted to sex with student, report says

A DeSoto County youth football coach and school counselor is accused of having sex with a student he counseled in his office at the school.

According to a probable cause report, 40-year-old Bruce Blanden Jr. began a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old after the Christmas break.

The student at DeSoto County High School reported the relationship to authorities on Monday.

The student, who turned 17 since the start of the sexual relationship, said she first had sex with Blanden at his home.

Since then, the student said, she had sex with Blanden in his office at the school on eight separate occasions.

The student also said she had sex with Blanden on a football field in Arcadia, the report states.

On Tuesday, authorities made a controlled call to Blanden with the student where he admitted to sex with the student. During the call, Blanden told the student not to tell anyone.

Blanden denied the allegations to the police, saying he only mentored the student.

Blanden was fired from his counseling job at First Steps of Sarasota after his arrest. He was employed as a counselor in 2016 who was placed at DeSoto County High School to help students who have problems that could affect their education.

Blanden is being held at DeSoto County Jail on a million-dollar bond for 10 counts of sexual assault on a minor over the age of 12 by a custodian.

Blanden lists himself as the head coach of DeSoto Youth Football.