Cops: Coach had improper relationship

GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) - A Georgetown High School assistant debate coach is being charged with having an improper relationship with a student after deputies allegedly found sexual texts messages.

Williamson County deputies said Cody Randall Gray, 20, sent sexually-explicit text messages to a female student.

Deputies were tipped off in November that Gray had been communicating inappropriately with the student, and the investigator assigned to the case said he reviewed printouts of the on-going text massaging.

Georgetown High School parents said they expect more out of the people hired to work with their kids.

"The first thing that goes through my head is 'did I prepare my child well enough to deal with that situation,'" said Georgetown High School parent Betzi Kelton.

The suspect was very active in the debate team when he graduated from Georgetown High School in 2006. Then, in May 2009, the Gray was hired as the assistant coach. He worked with about a dozen students between 10th and 12th grade.

"We had a situation reported to us a students parents so effective that day we ceased any arrangement or service with him," said Abbe Boring, Superintendent of Georgetown Independent School District.

However, Cody Gray's Facebook page said he is still a debate coach for Georgetown High School. He also claims to be a debate coach at LBJ High School in Austin, something AISD said is also not true. Gray's father, who answered the door, said he was not home and declined our request for an interview.

According to the Williamson County Sheriff's Office the investigator found text messages sent by Gray where "he communicated in a sexually explicit manner, including asking her to have sex with him and discussing sex generally."

Superintendent Boring said the fact Gray is 20-year-old and a former student did not make a difference.

"It is a violation," said Boring. "We want our students to feel safe and secure we don't want them to feel pressured by anyone to do anything."

GHS parents feel the same.

"A high school isn't really prepared to deal with that, and I would just hope they would prosecute that person to the fullest extent," said Kelton.

GISD Superintendent Abbe Boring said all GISD employees, coaches and volunteers undergo a background check, but added Gray's record was clear.

"I'm sorry to hear that it happened," said Kelton "I'm glad they were caught, and I'm glad there was a background check," said Kelton.

Authorities arrested Gray Tuesday, though he was released the same day on a $25,000 bond. If convicted he faces between two and 20 years in prison.