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Updated: 2:28 PM Oct 9, 2008
Lanier County High School Coach Charged with Sexual Assault
Lanier County High School's basketball coach is charged with the sexual assault of two students
Posted: 7:14 PM Oct 8, 2008Reporter: John Rogers Email Address: john.rogers@wctv.tv |
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Updated 10-08 7:10pm
Kim Beck recently moved to Lakeland, Georgia from Florida.
Her 14-year-old daughter attends Lanier County High School.
She feels her daughter is safe there, but says teachers should not get too friendly.
Beck says, "When you're put in authority of children, you should know where the boundaries lie. That you should just know better- children are off limits."
The District Attorney says the school's basketball coach, Robert Williams, is being charged with two counts of custodial sexual assault.
School officials say two weeks ago, two underage female students alleged that Williams touched them inappropriately.
Lanier County Schools Superintendent Keith Humphrey says, "Upon investigating that, the teacher was put on administrative leave pending the investigation."
But on Tuesday afternoon Williams turned himself in to the Lanier County Sheriff's Office.
"I believe in somebody's innocence until proven guilty," says Lakeland resident James Marshall.
School officials say Williams is out on bond and still on leave with pay.
The Lanier County Board of Education will discuss the matter at their next board meeting on October 13th.
"Wish it was where kids could go to school and just learn what they need to learn and not learn tough lessons in life," Beck says.
Williams' wife says these allegations are false, and their attorney is going to fight this.
Williams has two young children and another child on the way.
The Superintendent says the two girls still attend the school and they are ok.
The District Attorney says once the GBI turns over the evidence, it will be presented to a grand jury.
Williams could face ten to thirty years in prison for each count.
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Lanier County High School's basketball coach is charged with the sexual assault of two students under the age of 16. The superintendent of schools, Keith Humphrey, says Rob Williams turned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon. Humpries says Rob Williams faces two charges.
Williams is on paid administrative leave until the school board decides what to do next. The board will take up the matter at its next meeting on Monday, October 13th. Humpries says this is a personnel matter and it's being taken very seriously. Williams is out on bond.
We'll have more details tonight on Eyewitness News.
Latest Comments
where ez the follow up story, anyway? i don't find it!!
why are people quick to jump on whut the girls did or didn't do? the fact is they are kids - he an adult with authority and responzibilty pozition. he knew he had everythang to lose. he ignored the fact that he had a pregnant wife and children to conzider just to cop-a-feel however it happened. he had the age, wizdom, and experienz to know better N did it anyway. despite their age, the girls had enuf initiative N backbone to stand up to him N the entire school. the fact is no 1 had to testify against him. he told on himself - pled GUILTY. not his first time. school staff dizcovered thingz in his office not okay for teacher to have. the girlz still get gossiped about, criticized, harassed, and ridiculed. students try to shame them. their school experienz is forever scarred with. he got a minimal sentence spending several weekends in jail. who's paying the biggest price? who signed contract swearing to be ethical and moral person? he knew better. did it anyway!
Obviously some people have not followed this story closely. Checking Lanier County Court Records, you will learn he pleaded guilty to the charges. Some people just don't want to face the facts. He is a neighbor of mine and he "seems" like a nice person, but ... the fact is that he not only pleaded guilty, but he also plead guilty when he lived in Florida where he did the same thing. There has been a lot of heartache all the way around, but it doesn't change the fact that Rob Williams knowingly risked his teaching certificate and took advantage of a trust perpetrating a crime against more than one girl in his care. He let himself down. He let his family down as well as lots of others for self gratification. Regardless of his pleading, other girls stepped forward from different school systems where he had been employed who had similar problems with him. Thank God that Lanier County took him to task. He chose to be a predator and he has created ugly consequences for all.
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