Girls soccer coach becomes 33rd Texas teacher this year arrested for sexual relations with student
There is an epidemic of teachers having sex with students coursing its way through Texas.
Cleburne (Texas) High girls soccer coach William Christopher Francis, 27, became the 33rd teacher arrested for sexual contact with a student this year, WFAA-TV reported.
"I hope it's not true, but I also know there are two sides to every story," a parent of a Cleburne High student told the news broadcast. "I also know it's happening a lot."
In fact, improper relationships between teachers and juvenile students happen in Texas more than any other state. Terry Abbott, chief of staff in the U.S. Department of Education under the Bush administration, cited 13 female and 19 male teachers -- as well as one undisclosed case -- facing felony charges for sexual conduct with students.
The majority of the teachers involved were between the ages of 30-40, and a third of them used either social media or texts with the student victims, WFAA-TV reported.
Francis resigned from his posts as an audio visual and animation teacher as well as head girls soccer coach. This was his first school year at Cleburne in both roles. A day later, Francis was arrested and now faces up to 20 years in prison and $10,000 in fines. He remained behind bars on $40,000 bond at the time of the WFAA-TV report.
The Cleburne varsity girls soccer team finished 13-7-6 and made an appearance in the Class 4A sectional playoffs under Francis' direction this past season. His Lady Jackets roster featured three seniors, three juniors, six sophomores and a freshman.
Francis previously served as head coach at Irving's MacArthur and Nimitz high schools. He also coached in Lewisville and Plano, the Cleburne Times Review said.
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