DaytonDailyNews.com

TROY — Chad Widener, a former Miami East schools teacher and coach "stepped way over the line" in his relationship with a 15-year-old student, a Shelby county judge said before sentencing Widener to 10 days in jail for contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Widener, 37, of rural Casstown was sentenced Thursday, March 19, to six months in jail, with all but 10 days suspended.

The rest of the jail was suspended on the condition he completes two years of probation, complies with any counseling ordered by probation officers, serves 20 days of community service, pays a $250 fine and court costs and has no contact with minors, other than his own children.

Judge Norman Smith of Shelby County told Widener in Miami County Juvenile Court that he will never teach again, ordering him to turn in his teaching license. That has been done already, defense lawyer Jose Lopez said.

Widener was ordered to report Friday to the Shelby County probation department to learn when and where he would serve his jail time.

Smith said he received nearly 100 letters of support for Widener from fellow teachers, former students and members of the community. All said he was a fine teacher and coach and member of a respected family. Most letters, Smith said, came from people who didn't know the circumstances of the case.

The judge said Widener sent more than 1,000 messages to the girl, and more than 1,600 messages to another girl. Special Prosecutor Ralph Bauer said there was no evidence to support charges regarding the second girl mentioned by Smith.

The judge read from the message that led to the charges. "There is no ambiguity here ... You were suggesting oral sex to this girl. She was saying 'no' and you wouldn't take 'no,'" Smith said.

"As a teacher, you stepped way over the line here," the judge said "You inserted yourself into the private life of a 15-year-old, a place you had no place to be."

Widener was indicted last year by a Miami County grand jury on a felony charge of importuning. As part of a plea deal, the indictment was dismissed Jan. 28 for Widener's plea on the misdemeanor contributing charge. He resigned in August as a Miami East schools junior high teacher and girls varsity basketball coach.

"I regret that I hurt this young lady and her family. I am truly sorry to the school district and the community," Widener said Thursday.

The girl's mother said Widener sent the messages over a three-month period. The discovery of the one that led to the charges turned the family's life into an "emotional nightmare," she said.

The girl's step-father said they heard from other parents concerned about text messages and alleged inappropriate talk from Widener. "They are too young to understand the techniques he uses to manipulate them," he said.

The parents contacted the sheriff's office in February 2008, complaining about electronic messages the girl received.

The parents reported their daughter had been receiving "inappropriate" e-mails and text messages, so they installed a spyware program on the computer, according to the report. They said the program intercepted a text message between the girl and an unknown male that occurred Dec. 6, 2007, and contained "sexual statements" by the male, the report said.

The parents did not know who sent the messages, but the detectives' investigation led to Widener's phone records, sheriff's officials said.

The girl was a Miami East student, but not on a team Widener coached, investigators said.

Smith, a retired Shelby county judge and Bauer, Shelby County prosecutor named as special prosecutor for the charge against Widener, were appointed to handle the case to avoid the appearance of a conflict by Miami County prosecutors and judges. Widener's father, Ron, is a Miami County commissioner.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2292 or nbowman@DaytonDailyNews.com.