James Gatlin
Posted by Webmaster in Arkansas, Coaches, Hall of Shame, Junior High Schools, ME-IS-FV(12/17/07 – Initial BBT Report)
James Randy Gatlin, 58, of Sheridan, Arkansas, a golf coach at Sheridan Junior High School, has been charged with sexual indecency with a child.
Allegedly Gatlin engaged in sexually explicit Internet conversations with a person Gatlin believed to be a 13-year-old female.
The “girl” turned out to be an officer with the Conway Police Department. The online conversations are said to have occurred between November 29th and December 12th.
It is further alleged that Gatlin, using a Web cam, exposed himself to the undercover officer.
Reportedly when Sheridan police took Gatlin into custody, he allegedly admitted that he had used a Sheridan School District computer to engage in sexually explicit conversations with a person Gatlin believed to be a juvenile female.
Bond for Gatlin was set at $10,000.
3/26/08 – Guilty Plea
On Monday James Randy Gatlin pleaded guilty to sexual indecency with a child.
As a result of that guilty plea, Gatlin was sentenced to our years of probation, was ordered to register as a sex offender, pay nearly $2,500 in various court costs, refrain from using the Internet during the probation period and is prohibited from attending any school activities or events during the four years of probation.
References:
Former Sheridan coach pleads guilty to sexual indecency with a child (3/26/08)
Sheridan coach arrested for sexual indecency (12/17/07)
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There needs to be some type of regular pyschological testing for teachers. Mentally healthy people do not seek sexual relationships with children or those who are at a disavantage due to a person being in a position of authority over them. It needs to be illegal for any teacher to have any type of sexual relationship in all states regardless the age of the student. Throw out the statute of limitations too. These perverts just continue to pray on the kids. If someone is finally able and willing to come forward as an adult years later and the allegations prove to be true it would be saving future students from the abuse and humiliation.