UPDATE...Attorneys for William Joseph Seagroves moved to continue case. His new trial is set for February 16, 2010.
BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. – A former Sullivan Central High School teacher will answer charges in October that he had inappropriate sexual contact with a 16-year-old girl.
On Friday, Sullivan County Circuit Court Judge Robert Montgomery set an Oct. 28 court date for William Joseph Seagroves, 34, of Jonesborough, Tenn.
Seagroves pleaded not guilty May 1 to one count of sexual battery by an authority figure. The charge stems from accusations that he had inappropriate sexual contact with a 16-year-old girl on May 23, 2008. If convicted, he could be sentenced to a maximum of two years in prison.
Seagroves started teaching math at Sullivan Central in January 2006. He resigned from the job Oct. 23, soon after the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office announced it was investigating accusations he sent inappropriate text messages to one of his students.
According to an Oct. 10 report filed with the Sheriff’s Office, Seagroves also was accused of making “flirty gestures [and] sexual comments” to the student and touching her breast.
Seagroves was in court Friday for a hearing in which his attorney, Thomas Seeley, and Assistant District Attorney Julie Canter were due to present pre-trial motions for their case. Montgomery postponed the hearing until Sept. 1 after he set the October trial date.
gmclean@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2518
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