DELAND, Fla. -- A Stetson Baptist Christian School P.E. teacher and volleyball coach was arrested after sending sexual messages to a 14-year-old girl, according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office. 

  • Stetson Baptist School teacher accused of sending sexual messages to teen
  • 69-year-old Stephen Ward arrested and charged
  • Victim said the two were in a relationship, but were not physical

The victim's mother discovered the text messages between the teen and 69-year-old Stephen Ward, according to the report, and contacted authorities.  

Deputies said the text messages from Ward were sexually suggestive and referenced him performing sex acts on the victim. 

The victim told deputies that she had been in a relationship with Ward for about two weeks, but said the two never had physical contact. 

Ward was arrested Saturday night and charged with using an electronic device to seduce/solicit/lure a child and using a 2-way communication device to commit a felony. Ward is being held on a $10,000 bond. 

The Volusia County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone else who had inappropriate contact with Ward to contact the VCSO Child Exploitation Unit at 386-323-3574.