(08/05/08 - Initial BBT Report)
Russell Lee Hough, 39, girls’ softball and basketball coach at Warrensburg High School in Warrensburg, Missouri has been indicted by a Johnson County grand jury on felony sexual misconduct charges.
Hough was indicted on two counts of sexual contact with a student by school employee.
The indictment alleges that Hough engaged in sexual contact with two female students, ages 15 and 16, on school property.
This is not the first time that Hough has faced similar accusations of inappropriate physical contact with female students. Reportedly similar allegations where made in 2004 and again in 2006 and the school system placed him on administrative leave with pay the next year. Hough was reportedly reinstated two months later after being cleared by the school’s internal inquiry.
Hough and the school district are currently facing a civil lawsuit filed by six female athletes and their parents who claim sexual harassment and that school officials dismissed their complaints and declined to investigate for more than one year.
Reportedly the accusations and lawsuit on the part of the six female athletes has divided the town and turned the girls into pariahs.
According to the North County Times:
The teens have been called liars, bullies and even white trash (three of the players who have sued the white coach also are white, three are black). They’ve been insulted to their faces and on Facebook and MySpace pages. Their parents’ jobs have been threatened. And the involvement of their attorney, who also happens to be the wife of the University of Central Missouri’s president, has sparked a backlash that includes efforts to oust the college leader.
Hough, who also teaches physical education at a Warrensburg Elementary School will be placed on paid administrative leave according to a school spokesperson.
Following his arrest Hough was released on $7,500 bond.
Hough is scheduled to be back in court August 11th.
References:
Warrensburg Coach Faces Sex Abuse Charges (08/05/08)
State wants to reopen case into abuse allegations (03/19/08)
Teacher abuse claims divide small Missouri town (01/18/08)
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