Kerry Hood, a track and field coach and high school teacher in Douglas County, entered a guilty plea after being arrested in May 2024 on suspicion of sexually assaulting a student.
Two days before his surrender, the victim told police that Hood abused her for months while she was a student and track team player.
Hood was a special education teacher in the DeKalb County School District from 2005 to 2013, and he was employed at Lithia Springs High School at the time of his arrest.
RELATED STORIES
READ ALSO: Country star Jimmie Allen loses sexual assault lawsuit after disregarding court orders
The investigation began after the student reported the assault, which allegedly took place on school grounds and other locations. The school district fired Hood after his arrest.
According to 11 Alive, the 48-year-old entered a guilty plea to his charges earlier this month in a Douglas County courthouse, a little over a year after turning himself in when probable cause for his arrest was established.
During his first hearing, the judge denied the former teacher bond, stating that he was a danger to the public and that if released, he could have access to other minors.
During the hearing, Hood informed the judge that he had been a teacher for seven years and a teacher’s assistant for 10 years. According to the arrest warrant, the abuse occurred somewhere between December 2023 and May 2024.
“He did engage in sexual acts with a student,” the prosecuting attorney said. “He was also her track and field coach. The offense occurred at the school while class was in session. Our investigation revealed the sexual acts also occurred outside the school too.”
READ ALSO: ESPN parts ways with Shannon Sharpe after he settles $50M sexual assault lawsuit
While a colleague, coach and friend of Hood expressed shock and hoped the charges were false, a former student, Ryan Samples, said they weren’t surprised given Hood’s close bond with track students.
“Everybody needs to know if there are more victims or whatnot, especially if nobody has come forward because this could have been going on for a really long time. There’s just an unknowing amount of people that could have experienced this, and they need to help too, and they need justice for them as well,” Samples said, according to 11 Alive.
The sheriff’s office is looking for information on any other victims.
On September 10, Atlanta News First reported that Hood was convicted of three counts of first-degree improper sexual contact by an employee or agent. Court documents reveal that he was sentenced to 25 years, 12 of which will be served in prison and the remainder on probation.
Hood must register as a sex offender as a condition of his guilty plea. He is also prohibited from speaking to the victim or holding a job that involves dealing with minors.
READ ALSO: Police seek Good Samaritan who saved woman from violent sexual assault at Atlanta Target
