Tavares High School athletic trainer bought alcohol, partied with students, deputies say

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — A Tavares High School athletic trainer was arrested Wednesday after Lake County deputies said he bought alcohol for students and partied with them in the Ocala National Forest.

Kyle Rentschler, 31, of Mount Dora, is accused of meeting several students from the high school at a Winn Dixie in Eustic on March 12 and buying alcohol for them, deputies said.

The juveniles and Rentschler drank in the Paisley area of the forest; Rentschler then had another juvenile drive him to the store again to buy more alcohol and go back to the party, deputies said.

"There was a bonfire there, and they were drinking and cutting up. About what you would expect with a bunch of kids with alcohol in the woods," said Lt. John Herrell with the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators became aware of the party after a parent found a video and gave it to a school administrator, who contacted deputies.

Students told Eyewitness News that they were disappointed by Rentschler's arrest and that many of them never had a problem with him.

Rentschler has been charged with three counts: selling, giving and serving alcoholic beverages to person younger than 21, and two counts of contributing to delinquency or dependency of a child.

Rentschler resigned from the school hours after his arrest, Eyewitness News learned.

A spokesperson for the school district told Channel 9's Angela Jacobs that Rentschler had no prior disciplinary issues while he worked at the school for four years.

Rentschler is out of jail on bond.

Cox Media Group