Published: October 06, 2008 09:54 am         

Arraignment slated

Former coach faces charges for sexual relationship with student

Danie M. Huffman

wdreporter2@yahoo.com

A Springtown High School soccer coach is accused of sexually assaulting one of his student athletes.

An arraignment hearing is set for Wednesday for Jeremy Michael McCoy, 30, who resigned from Springtown ISD Aug. 7.

The 16-year-old victim told police she had been drinking at a party earlier this year and sent a text message to McCoy, who was at a Fort Worth night club, asking him to pick her up because she did not want to face her parents.

The probable cause arrest affidavit states McCoy picked up the victim from Howell’s in Springtown and took her back to his home, where the alleged assault took place.

The victim said she pretended to be asleep because she was scared, nervous and did not know what to do.

McCoy’s roommate denied knowing about the incident, but later admitted to police the victim was still at their home when he left the next morning.

Rumors at the high school prompted authorities to call Child Protective Services, who notified Springtown Police.

Three phone conversations were recorded between the victim and McCoy, who never denied the allegations, but “coached” the victim on what to tell authorities.

Springtown Police Investigator Kris Taylor said McCoy told the victim to deny the charges and not to “give in or back down.”

McCoy was arrested Aug. 13 for sexual assault of a child, indecency with a child by sexual contact and for improper relationship between educator and student. He posted a $40,000 bond the following day. He was indicted by the grand jury in September for the second degree felonies and faces trial in early December.

McCoy has retained defense attorney Phillip Hayes.

“The events are unfortunate for both parties involved,” Hayes said, adding the charges were “blown out of proportion.”

Hayes plans to meet with the Parker County District Attorney’s Office for a “fair and just resolution.”

“We’ll work together for the right results,” Hayes said. “At this point, I can’t tell you what that’s going to be.”

He added a lot of the allegations are “heresay.”

“There is fault that lies with both parties,” he said. “We will resolve that situation.”

Hayes has filed to postpone the arraignment to reschedule the hearing due to a conflicting court date with another case.

Robert DuBoise and Kathleen Catania will be prosecuting the case for the state.

“If Mr. McCoy is convicted of any one of the three counts in the indictment, he will be facing two to 20 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine,” DuBoise said. “If it is shown at [the] trial that he does not have any prior felony convictions, the judge or jury could also consider a probated sentence.”

The case is pending in the 415th Judicial District Court under presiding Judge Graham Quisenberry.

     

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