By By Georgia E. Frye / staff writer
June 30, 2004
Lauderdale County School Superintendent David Little said Tuesday a Meridian man arrested and charged with sexual battery in Rankin County will not coach at county schools.
The county school board had voted June 17 to hire Monty McMullen, 28, as the new head baseball coach at Northeast Lauderdale High School. Little said McMullen had not signed a contract.
McMullen, a former Florence High School teacher, was being held in Rankin County Jail on Wednesday on a $100,000 bond while awaiting his initial court appearance on two counts of sexual battery.
Richland police arrested McMullen on Friday on charges he had inappropriate relationships with two underaged girls.
Richland Police Chief Russel James would not confirm the girls in question are students of Florence High or whether they have graduated. He said the alleged sexual acts occurred in a Richland hotel.
McMullen was a physical education and health teacher and assistant football coach at Florence High School. His arrest was the third arrest of a central Mississippi school teacher in one month.
George Morris, 53, of Byram, a former track coach at Hillcrest Christian School, was arrested earlier this month on sexual battery and gratification of lust charges. He is accused of having sexual relations with a female student from 2002-2004.
Nancy Lewis, 45, a Ridgeland High School English teacher, pleaded innocent earlier this month to sexual battery and gratification of lust charges. Her charges stem from an alleged relationship with a student.
McMullen, a 1994 graduate of Lamar School, said earlier this month that he was excited "to get a chance to come back close to home to coach baseball."
McMullen would have replaced Steve Nelson. Little said that Nelson, who serves as Northeast football coach, could coach the baseball team if the district can't find a replacement on such short notice.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.