kepdawg
05-16-2007, 06:08 PM
Swim coach accused of having sex with student
Carroll ISD: 17-year-old girl reported relationship, police say
11:38 PM CDT on Tuesday, May 15, 2007
By HOLLY YAN / The Dallas Morning News
hyan@dallasnews.com
A 26-year-old swim coach for the Carroll Independent School District was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of having sexual relations with a student.
Byron Eugene Coyle was arrested near his home in Keller and faces a charge of improper relationship between educator and student, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Bail was set at $25,000.
Keller police learned Tuesday morning that a 17-year-old girl "reported she had a sexual relationship, which began in March of 2007 with her high school swim coach," Keller police Lt. Brenda Slovak said in a written statement.
Mr. Coyle, who could not be reached for comment, is accused of breaking a Texas law that criminalizes sexual relationships between teachers and students even if a student has reached the state's consensual age of 17 and agrees to the relationship.
Proponents of the law, which took effect in 2003, have said that even older teenage students shouldn't have sexual relations with teachers, especially because teachers have power over them. Opponents say the law should have different provisions for different age groups and factor in whether students consent to the relationships.
Several similar cases have received media attention in the past year. Ronny Lee Yates, a 35-year-old Cleburne High School assistant coach and teacher, was arrested in January on suspicion of having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student.
Last May, 25-year-old Amy McElhenney was arrested on suspicion of having a sexual relationship with an 18-year-old student from Hebron High School in Carrollton. A Denton County grand jury declined to indict Ms. McElhenney, a former Miss Texas contestant whose case made national headlines.
Carroll ISD: 17-year-old girl reported relationship, police say
11:38 PM CDT on Tuesday, May 15, 2007
By HOLLY YAN / The Dallas Morning News
hyan@dallasnews.com
A 26-year-old swim coach for the Carroll Independent School District was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of having sexual relations with a student.
Byron Eugene Coyle was arrested near his home in Keller and faces a charge of improper relationship between educator and student, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Bail was set at $25,000.
Keller police learned Tuesday morning that a 17-year-old girl "reported she had a sexual relationship, which began in March of 2007 with her high school swim coach," Keller police Lt. Brenda Slovak said in a written statement.
Mr. Coyle, who could not be reached for comment, is accused of breaking a Texas law that criminalizes sexual relationships between teachers and students even if a student has reached the state's consensual age of 17 and agrees to the relationship.
Proponents of the law, which took effect in 2003, have said that even older teenage students shouldn't have sexual relations with teachers, especially because teachers have power over them. Opponents say the law should have different provisions for different age groups and factor in whether students consent to the relationships.
Several similar cases have received media attention in the past year. Ronny Lee Yates, a 35-year-old Cleburne High School assistant coach and teacher, was arrested in January on suspicion of having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student.
Last May, 25-year-old Amy McElhenney was arrested on suspicion of having a sexual relationship with an 18-year-old student from Hebron High School in Carrollton. A Denton County grand jury declined to indict Ms. McElhenney, a former Miss Texas contestant whose case made national headlines.