Jr. High Coach Accused Of Soliciting Sex From Students

A junior high football coach and teacher is out of a job and in jail after he was charged with trying to solicit sex from students.

Marcus Cheeks, 27, is charged with two counts of criminal solicitation of a minor. He coached two sports and taught health classes at York Junior High School.

According to one arrest warrant, Cheeks used his cell phone to send sexually explicit text messages to a 15-year-old girl from February to March. It says the messages talk about meeting at a hotel for sex.

A second warrant alleges that Cheeks sent similar text messages and explicit pictures back and forth with a 14-year-old girl from December of last year through March. The pictures show both Cheeks and the girl posing in their underwear.

Sheriff's deputies said a parent of one of the students found out what was going on and called authorities.

"We're shocked. We're disappointed. I'm upset," said York Schools Superintendent Dr. Russell Booker.

Booker said Cheeks was put on administrative leave March 12 when allegations against him first came to light. He never returned to work, and he was fired within the last few days.

"With cell phones and texting, there's so much out there," said Booker, who tightened school policies last year urging teachers to avoid texting or e-mailing students directly.

He also discouraged them from posting on the MySpace and Facebook pages of students as well.

"In my opinion, those mediums of communication with students are inappropriate," he said.

Booker said it's more important that teachers communicate with parents first. He said losing a teacher like Cheeks is more than just a disciplinary action.

"We lose more than just a person. It chips away at this profession, and that's something we can't have," he said.

Each count of criminal solicitation of a minor is a felony, carrying a maximum of 10 years in prison or a fine of up to $5,000.