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KHOU has reported that a former football coach has been accused of having an improper relationship with a student while at Patricia E. Paetow High School located at 23111 Stockdick School Rd, Katy, TX 77493.
According to court documents, at least five female students have accused Lonnie Teagle of inappropriate touching and comments. One of the girls alleged that he used his hand to touch her private parts. Teagle, a former Paetow High School football coach, is facing charges including having an improper relationship with a student and indecency with a child.
Two 15-year-old students were separately interviewed by an officer from the police department back in October 2022. During the interview, one girl claimed Teagle had been touching her and her friend since September 1, 2022. She said that Teagle started making inappropriate comments but that it escalated to hugging the girls around the waist and slowly moving his hands to their buttocks. Another girl alleged that the coach touched her inner thigh making contact with her private area over her clothes. Both girls described an incident where Teagle took them into a room and spanked them over his lap.
Teagle resigned from his coaching position at the high school in October, just as he was questioned for the misconduct allegations.
During the investigation, detectives discovered that Teagle had previous complaints from a Denton ISD. A female student accused him of similar conduct, including inappropriate comments. Staff members from Stocdick Junior High said they felt uncomfortable due to his mannerisms, comments, and touching.
Attorney contributor Anjali Nigam represents sex abuse victims and their families in private civil suits within Pennsylvania. During a recent discussion, Anjali explained when victims can sue if sexually abused by a HS coach.
"There has been an increase in cases of inappropriate conduct with students by teachers and coaches. High schools and other educational institutions have a legal duty to keep their students safe from dangers, including sexual misconduct. In order to reduce the risk of sexual abuse, schools are required to have security protocols in place. Security cameras and reporting systems are just a few of these security measures. All school employees need to undergo an extensive background check prior to hiring. If a high school fails to provide proper security, they could be held liable in a civil suit."
"School safety protocols should be investigated if a coach is arrested on allegations of sexual misconduct against a student. If the abuse could have been prevented or if the school's safety negligent made it happen, victims may have grounds for a lawsuit. Furthermore, the school could be found negligent if the coach's previous reports of improper behavior were ignored or a background check was not conducted. The victim and their family should get legal guidance from an experienced school sexual abuse attorney. "
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