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Ex-coach admits to 'huge mistake' with teen

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By Nancy Bowman, Contributing Writer 1:49 PM Tuesday, November 24, 2009

TROY – A former Milton-Union teacher and coach told a Miami County judge he “made a huge mistake” in having inappropriate communications with a student

“It was something as an adult, as a teacher, I never should have done,” Manuel Perez, 42, of Fletcher told Judge W. McGregor Dixon Jr. in county Juvenile Court Tuesday, Nov. 24.

Perez pleaded guilty Tuesday to a misdemeanor charge of contributing to the delinquency or unruliness of a minor. A presentence investigation was ordered. A sentencing date was not set Tuesday. Perez remains free on his own recognizance.

Perez was charged earlier this year after a 17-year-old girl’s parents contacted the county sheriff’s office about alleged improper texting.

Authorities said they reviewed records and “several hundred” messages, dating to February, sheriff’s Capt. Dave Duchak said. The messages “were inappropriate for a student-teacher relationship,” he said.

Before accepting the guilty plea, Dixon asked Perez a series of questions about his communication and relationship with the girl.

Perez said he met with the girl off school grounds in public places a couple of times. “Nothing went on — it was inappropriate,” Perez said.

He said the two “talked about different things.” On additional questioning by Dixon, Perez said he told the girl he loved her and that they would “be together” after she finished school.

As part of the plea deal, prosecutors won’t file additional charges against Perez involving the girl, Rob Long, an assistant county prosecutor, said. Perez can have no contact with the girl or her family and prosecutors will remain silent regarding punishment at the sentencing, Long said.

Perez resigned from the Milton-Union schools June 3. He had been a teacher at the district since the 2003-04 school year and was to begin coaching girls soccer this fall, Milton-Union Superintendent Ginny Rammel said.

Before joining the Milton-Union staff as a language arts teacher, Perez was a boys soccer coach at the Miami East schools, also in Miami County.

The charge was handled in juvenile court because the court, under state law, has jurisdiction in contributing to the delinquency of a minor cases.

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