As published in the Courier-Tribune on September 22, 2012
By Hugh Martin
biscoewriter@yahoo.com
BISCOE –A first-year head coach for the East Montgomery girls’ volleyball team was arrested Friday and charged with indecent liberties with a child.
Julius Ryan, 29, of Biscoe has been placed in the Montgomery County Jail under a $25,000 bond.
Ryan has been employed at the school as the graduation coach and in school suspension coordinator since Aug. 21 of the current school year and has been coaching the volleyball team since that time.
Ryan has previously been employed as a lifeguard at a local park.
Lieutenant Kelley Howell of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said that he received information on Tuesday that Ryan allegedly had sent text messages to a volleyball team member and had kissed her.
Ryan denied the allegations. He was asked to leave the school grounds during an investigation, which included officials from Montgomery County Schools.
Lindsay Whitley, public information officer for Montgomery County Schools said, “We are working closely with the sheriff’s office, and any inappropriate behavior will be handled according to board policy and/or applicable laws.”
Whitley said the district’s top priority is to ensure a safe environment for all students.
He also said that as a part of regular procedures, MCS conducts extensive background checks on all employees and coaches. “Additionally, employees are reminded annually of Prohibited Relationships with Students as a part of the Montgomery County Schools Employee Handbook review.”
“Montgomery County Schools will continue to cooperate with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office as it completes its investigation,” Whitley said.
The investigation by Howell, School Resources Officer Kelsey Brown and East Montgomery Principal Heather Seawell revealed that the team member alleged that Ryan had been sending her instant messages through a cell phone application that both used.
She told investigators that the messages were not sexual in nature but that she was made uncomfortable by them and that on Sept. 11 she was walking by Ryan’s classroom where he kissed her.
According to Howell, a review of the school’s video security system was “consistent with the student’s statement.”
A meeting by investigators with the entire volleyball team did not result in any further allegations against Ryan.
According to Whitley, Ryan has been suspended with pay.
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