The Harris County District Attorney’s office on Nov. 14 charged Lonnie Teagle, the former Paetow High School football coach, with indecency with a child and improper relationship with a student.

Teagle, 39, posted on Nov. 21 a $20,000 bond on the indecency with a child charge and a $10,000 bond on the improper relationship with a student charge, court documents said.

The indecency with a child charge is a second-degree felony, with at least a two-year prison term if convicted. The improper relationship with a student charge is a second- or third-degree felony, depending on the circumstances, with at least a two-year prison term if convicted.

According to the charging documents, two Paetow students came forward with complaints against Teagle, claiming that he inappropriately touched them. School officials met with one of those students and her mother. This first student said Teagle inappropriately touched her and her best friend. Both these students, the charging documents said, are 15 years of age.

This first student said Teagle began with inappropriate comments, which turned into inappropriate hugs. The hugs, the first student said, began with Teagle’s hands around the waist and slowly moved lower onto the buttocks. The first student said Teagle was hugging both her and the second student like that, and he told them not to tell anyone.

Later, the first student said, Teagle took these two students into a room at the high school and he said he was going to spank them. The first student said Teagle bent her over in his lap and spanked her about three times before she could get up. The documents said Teagle then spanked the second student. On Sept. 9, the charging documents said, Teagle apologized to the students for his inappropriate behavior.

The charging documents said the second student claimed that Teagle began to say inappropriate things to her.

The charging documents said on Oct. 12, three additional female students came forward with complaints about Teagle. The three students said he inappropriately touched them and made inappropriate comments. Two of these three students are 16 years of age, and the third is 15 years of age.

In addition to complaints from Paetow, the charging documents said there were complaints against Teagle from staff at Stockdick Junior High School, 4777 Peek Road. Stockdick Junior High School sits next to Paetow High School, 23111 Stockdick School Road.

The charging documents said three Stockdick staff members came forward, claiming Teagle made them feel uncomfortable on multiple occasions through inappropriate comments, touching and mannerisms.

In October, Katy ISD said its police department was investigating an allegation against Teagle, who resigned Oct. 11, citing personal issues. Katy ISD said it referred its findings to the Harris County District Attorney’s office.

“The district takes all potential safety concerns seriously,” the district said in a Nov. 21 statement. “When made aware of any allegation concerning a staff member, the individual is immediately removed from their assignments, while district personnel work swiftly with law enforcement and other agencies to conduct a thorough investigation to ensure the safety and well-being of all students.”

The case is in the 351^st state district court in Houston. The Times has reached out to Sean Darvishi, Teagle’s attorney, for comment, but had not received a response by press time.

Teagle was in his first year at Paetow, having come from Ryan High School in Denton. The charging documents said the grand jury investigating Teagle’s case sent for his work records from that district. It was discovered that he had complaints in October 2021 from Denton ISD. The complaints said Teagle told a female student there that her chest looked good to him. On another occasion, he asked a group of female students for a back rub.

The district provided no comment on how the allegations against Teagle in Denton were considered, or not considered, in its evaluation of Teagle’s suitability for employment in Katy.

Teagle’s situation was a tough blow for a football program that in 2021 won the Class 5A Division I state championship. The coach of that team, BJ Gotte, resigned after that season to become the coach at Pearland High School, setting the stage for Teagle’s arrival at Paetow. Teagle became Paetow coach and athletic director on March 31.

David Hicks Sr. took over as Panthers coach on an interim basis following Teagle’s resignation. The Panthers finished the 2022 season with a 5-5 record.