By TRICIA NEAL, CJ Staff Writer
Commonwealth Journal
Somerset —
A former Somerset High School teacher and coach has been indicted as a result of an incident involving a female student.
A Pulaski grand jury says Bret Howard, 29, of Somerset, “committed the offense of criminal solicitation to the use of a minor in a sexual performance” in January of this year.
The Somerset Police Depart-ment was contacted to investigate the incident earlier this year, and results of the case were presented to the grand jury, Detective Lt. Shannon Smith said yesterday.
The misdemeanor charge has been turned over to Pulaski District Court for further action. At press time, it was not clear whether a warrant for Howard’s arrest had been issued.
Police say the student — a 16-year-old girl — claimed that Howard offered her money in exchange for oral sex and later said he would give her money if she would expose herself to him.
Howard has been ordered to have no contact with any child under the age of 18 and to have no contact with any city or county school systems or any school property.
Somerset Independent School Superintendent Dr. Teresa Wallace said Howard resigned in January, shortly after the allegations arose. He taught science and was an assistant baseball and girls’ basketball coach at SHS.
