Daniel Brown, 30, and Matthew Blanton, 28, were both released on bond today.
Bond had been set at $7,350 each for two former Model High School basketball coaches charged Thursday for allegedly being involved in inappropriate teacher-student relationships.
Brown, 30, and Blanton, 28, were both arrested on felony sexual assault charges, said Floyd County Police Sgt. Teri Davis.
Police investigating Blanton and Brown’s cases reported that the unidentified female students involved are 16 and 17.
An investigation by the school system also led to the firing of a third Model staff member Thursday, said Tim Hensley, a spokesman for the school system.
Jamie Taylor, a paraprofessional, is a non-certificated employee, so school board action was not required for his termination.
“We’ve been investigating since Monday,” said Floyd County Schools Superintendent Lynn Plunkett. “I can’t comment on details of the investigation because it might jeopardize the ongoing investigation.”
Click here to read the text of Plunkett's phone message to Model parents.
Hensley would not say whether Taylor’s dismissal was directly related to the firing of the two Model coaches.
“We don’t want to destroy someone’s career or life by falsely accusing them of something. We want to have all the facts,” said Model High Principal Glenn White, shortly before Taylor’s firing was confirmed.
The school board fired both Brown and Blanton on Tuesday night after meeting behind closed doors.
School officials provided police a video of Blanton and the girl but would not discuss its contents.
“We’re not finished investigating possible allegations against other employees,” said White. “Jamie Taylor is now a closed investigation, and I can’t make any comments except he has been terminated.”
According to Floyd County Jail reports, Blanton’s is accused of kissing and fondling a student on school property, taking place between Oct. 1 and Nov. 17.
According to warrants, Brown did have a sexual relationship with a Model student between Aug. 1 and Nov. 17.
Brown and the victim had conversations at the school where they exchanged phone numbers that enabled them to keep in contact.
The offense locations were listed as the school and his home on Robin Hood Road.
“When we interview people, we do background checks, and we do checks with previous employers. We thoroughly check people out prior to hiring them, but the school system is not immune to what people do after they’re hired,” said Floyd County Board of Education Chairman Bryan Shealy.
Investigations of all three cases have been handed over from the school system to local law enforcement and the Professional Standards Commission, which sets ethical standards for teachers statewide and maintains the right to revoke a teacher’s license and certification.
The District Attorney’s Office and the Department of Family and Children Services were also contacted as a part of the ongoing investigation.
“I hope this does send a message that we won’t tolerate any acts like this in our system,” said Shealy. “I applaud our staff and administration for dealing with the situation. ... They’ve gotten the information and gone to work on that information very expeditiously and thoroughly.”
Andy Akin, who previously coached the girls’ team at Model High School, was named the new head basketball coach Wednesday.
Related content:
”2 Model coaches are fired”
Video interviews with Model parents
” Model High parents support school after firing of 2 teachers”
|
|
No Related links found
|
