Atlanta swim coach arrested for rape of student www.privateofficer.com

ATLANTA GA Feb 19 2010– A former swim coach at an Atlanta middle school was in jail Tuesday, charged with drugging and sexually assaulting a student from the school where he worked, according to police.

Police said that Charles Clarke, 35, is accused of taking a 15-year-old student from Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School to the Fulton Inn Motel and raping her. He is also accused of giving her marijuana and alcohol.

Police said Clarke met the girl when she was punished for skipping school and was ordered to help clean the pool.

Detectives charged Clarke with child molestation, aggravated sodomy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, statutory rape, sexual assault, enticing a child for indecent purposes and battery.

Police began investigating the incident after the student told her mother and a school counselor that Clarke had raped her.

Atlanta Public Schools officials said Clarke was a part time instructor who had been with the school since September.

A spokesman says he was immediately terminated when the allegations were made.

Clarke is currently in the Fulton County jail awaiting a first appearance hearing on Wednesday.

About these ads