NASHVILLE, TENN. — Youth Services Juvenile Sex Crimes detectives Wednesday night charged former RePublic High School teacher and football coach Leon W. Garlington, 25, with solicitation of a minor for allegedly making ‘sexual overtures’ via text messages to a 17-year-old female student.
The investigation, which began on Monday, led to Garlington’s admissions that he sent the text messages on March 17th and knew it was wrong.
WKRN reported: Police said Garlington asked the girl when her birthday was and expressed disappointment that it was not sooner, implying he wishes she was already 18.
According to an affidavit, Garlington gave the girl his cell phone number and they began a text conversation where he discussed having her drive to his apartment, even offering to reimburse her for gas money.
The teen made excuses why she could not go, according to police.
Garlington reportedly told the girl not to save his real name under his number in her phone and texted her the next day to ask her to act like none of it ever happened and “see you at school tomorrow,” according to police.
Garlington, of Hendersonville, Tennessee, is being held in lieu of $100,000 bond.
He was fired from RePublic High School on Monday.
