OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — The second U.S. Army recruiter accused of having sexual relations with an Osceola County high school student has been arrested in Michigan, according to the Sheriff's Office.
Investigators said John Back, 33, was taken into custody by St. Joseph's County Sheriff's Office deputies Friday night. He will be extradited to Osceola County, officials said.
The other Army recruiter accused in the case, 30-year-old Christopher Doner, was booked into the Osceola County Jail on Tuesday.
Authorities said both men worked as recruiters at the U.S. Army's field office in Kissimmee and are facing with multiple counts of unlawful sex with certain minors.
According to investigators, a woman contacted the sheriff's office in early November and told them her 17-year-old daughter was sexually active with two adult males.
The girl told deputies she met Doner and Back while she was attending Harmony High School.
"It's bad for the community, especially for this school that has really high standards," said parent Annette Naris.
According to the sheriff's office, the girl said she had sex with both men at different times over several months.
"The victim did indicate that the sex was consensual, but because the individuals were in a position of authority and she was a high school student, that is the reason for the charges," said Twis Lizasuain of the Osceola County Sheriff's Office.
Investigators said Doner was questioned and told them he knew the relationship was inappropriate and would end it. Detectives quickly learned that Back had recently relocated with his family to Michigan.
"Earlier this week, investigators went to Back's home in Poinciana, spoke with neighbors and they indicated they saw moving trucks and the home was vacant," said Lizasuain.
A military spokesman told WFTV both men are still in the Army. Their statuses will be reevaluated once they go to court.
Defense attorney Bob Wheelock specializes in military law and used to be a prosecutor for the military.
“Right now they have got dual problems. They have whatever is going on with the state of Florida down in Osceola County and they also have the army looking at what they are doing,” Wheelock said.
He said the main difference between civil and military court is with juries.
A military jury is made up of military officials and does not need a unanimous vote to get a conviction.
“They have an orders violation problem potentially and they have what is called a general article problem. Article 134 of the uniform code of military justice for inappropriate sexual activity and bringing discredit upon the military,” Wheelock said.
Doner was booked into the Osceola County Jail on $38,000 bail but has since bonded out.