LAKE CITY, Fla. – A high school soccer coach who ran away with a 17-year-old student has been booked into the Columbia County Jail after being returned to Florida from Syracuse, New York, where he was found with the teen.
Rian Rodriguez, 27, is charged with interference with child custody, a third-degree felony, but authorities have not ruled out the possibility of additional charges.
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He chose not to fight his extradition and was transported back to Florida by a company the Columbia County Sheriff's Offices contracted with.
Deputies said Rodriguez will have a first appearance hearing Friday morning.
Rodriguez and Caitlyn Frisina were at the center of a nationwide search after the teen ran away from home last month. Authorities located the pair near Syracuse on Dec. 1.
A friend of Frisina's said the teen, a Fort White High soccer player, was in a relationship with Rodriguez, who was the assistant coach for the boys team, court documents show.
Rodriguez reportedly had started a new job in New York to fund his travels with Frisina. Police said he intended to save some money to buy bogus credentials so the two could leave the country.
News4Jax contacted Caitlyn's mother, Scarlet Frisina, after Rodriguez was returned to Columbia County. She said she did not have an update on what will happen next for the former coach.