Laurie K. Blandford, and Jon Santucci

Treasure Coast

SEBASTIAN — An 18-year-old Sebastian River High School football player is accused of having sex with a 14-year-old girl in the team room after he was ejected from a football game, according to court records.

Jamal Levon Riggins Jr., of the 4500 block of 33rd Avenue in Vero Beach, was arrested Tuesday morning at Sebastian River High School at 9001 90th Ave. and charged with lewd or lascivious battery, according to an Indian River County sheriff’s report.

According to court records:

On Nov. 21, adolescent psychologist Dr. Raymond Dean told sheriff’s officials he had a recent counseling session with a 14-year-old girl who said she had sex with Riggins.

Officials talked to the girl’s parents, who said they put their daughter in counseling as soon as they learned about her having sex with Riggins.

The girl told officials she had consensual sex with Riggins in the team room during a football game from which he was ejected. During a play against Mainland High School, Riggins was ejected after throwing a punch at an offensive lineman on the opposing team.

On Nov. 29, the girl told a state attorney victim’s advocate Riggins was ejected from a Nov. 18 game, and she was at the high school football stadium. She said he used a friend’s phone to message her to meet him.

She met him behind the stadium where athletes typically get ice or other treatment from the athletic trainer. They walked into the school to his locker and then went into the team room.

Riggins walked over and removed her clothes, she said. He then had sex with her on the couch in the team room.

She said he also previously messaged her on Snapchat to ask her to have sex, and she agreed.

After getting consent to search the girl’s phone, officials began messaging Riggins on Snapchat, pretending to be the girl.

On Nov. 30, he said not to say anything to school officials or law enforcement if they talk to her about him. On Dec. 5, he said to tell law enforcement nothing happened. In those exchanges, his messages indicated the two had sex.

Riggins remained in the Indian River County Jail on Wednesday after his first appearance in court that morning, where a judge set his bail at $7,500. He was ordered not to contact the girl.

Indian River County School District officials declined to comment. According to the district’s code of conduct, a principal can suspend a student formally charged with a felony regardless of whether the incident occurred on school property. The student also could be placed in an alternative program.

Riggins is No. 2 on the TCPalm Super 11, the annual list of the most recruited high school seniors on the Treasure Coast.

As a junior, Riggins led Sebastian River with 100 tackles, four blocked kicks, an interception and a forced fumble. This fall, he helped the Sharks to a school-record 10 wins, including the first postseason win in program history.

Riggins verbally committed to Wake Forest in February, but changed his mind in September. Verbal commitments are non-binding. National Signing Day, the first day high school seniors can sign a National Letter of Intent, is Feb. 1.

Sebastian River coach Kevin Pettis said in September that Riggins was being heavily recruited by Mississippi State, North Carolina, West Virginia and Indiana. It's unclear how Riggins' arrest will impact his recruiting.

In February 2014, Fort Pierce Central linebacker Sharieff Rhaheed-Muhammad signed with University of Louisville but was arrested a few weeks later on a felony charge of lewd lascivious behavior with a 14-year-old.

A St. Lucie County judge sentenced Rhaheed-Muhammad to community service and put him on probation after he pleaded no contest. Louisville terminated Rhaheed-Muhammad's letter of intent in May.

Rhaheed-Muhammad played one year at Nassau Community College (N.Y.).

Football player arrested at Sebastian River High School