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Friday, January 27, 2012

Additional Charges Filed Against Sussex Tech Teacher

GEORGETOWN, Del.- Delaware State Police say additional charges have been filed against a Sussex Tech High School teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student.
On Thursday morning, police first announced that Charles B. Coursey, 38, of Milton, had been charged with three counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a child by a person of trust and four counts of second-degree unlawful sexual contact.
On Thursday afternoon, police announced that Coursey is now additionally charged with two counts of dealing in child pornography and two counts of obscenity.
Police said Coursey's arrest stemmed from an investigation that got under way Wednesday, Jan. 25, when Sussex Tech school administrators notified troopers about a female student allegedly involved in a sexual relationship with a teacher. State police could not say who tipped off the district.
According to police, an investigation determined that the teacher- identified as Coursey- and the student had entered into a cellphone text messaging relationship while at school. This developed into the two meeting off campus at least four times in January and engaging in sexual acts, according to court documents.
Coursey met the girl in the Oark Orchard area and drove her to a trailer he owned at least three times in January, according to court records.
Police also said that during the course of their relationship, Coursey sent obscene photos of himself to the student.
Coursey was originally ordered held in the Sussex Correctional Institution in lieu of $17,000 secured bail. Following the additional charges filed against him, bail was increased to $80,000 cash.
Coursey is a sociology and special education teacher at Sussex Tech. He also serves as the school's head junior varsity baseball coach, according to an online biography that has since been removed.
Sussex Tech spokesperson Carolyn O'Neal said Coursey has been suspended from his job pending the completion of the criminal investigation.
Coursey is also a volunteer assistant men's basketball coach at Wesley College in Dover, according to college spokesperson Jessica Cook. She said Coursey has been suspended from his coaching duties on an interim basis as a precautionary measure pending the outcome of the case.
Delaware State Police said they have no reason to believe other students are involved in this case.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 2, in the Sussex County Court of Common Pleas.

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