Former Slaton coach faces federal enticement charge for relationship with student
By Gabriel Monte A-J Media
A former Slaton ISD coach accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student now faces a federal count of enticing the student to engage in sexual activity.
Federal grand jurors returned an indictment against Dustin Ray Leonard, 28, on Wednesday charging him with enticement of a minor.
Leonard was arrested May 22 by Texas Rangers in connection with an investigation into an inappropriate relationship he had with a student. He was booked into the Lubbock County Detention Center on a state charge of improper relationship between a student and teacher, a second-degree felony that carries a punishment of two to 20 years in prison.
The federal indictment states Leonard enticed, persuaded or induced a person younger than 18 to engage in sexual activity for which he could be charged with a crime, as it is illegal for a teacher to have sex with a student.
In April, Leonard resigned from Slaton ISD, where he had worked for two years, according to a statement from the school district. The statement reads that the school district is fully cooperating in the ongoing investigation.
Leonard remains held at the Lubbock County Detention Center.