A Greenwood Middle School coach was arrested Tuesday.
Elijah M. Ross, 22 of Greenwood, was booked into the Johnson County jail on preliminary charges of child solicitation and disseminating pornography to a minor.
Greenwood Police Chief Jim Ison said the arrest was related to an allegation that he had sent pictures of himself to a teenage female. Additional details about the nature of the allegations will not be available until charges are filed. The Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office will ultimately decide what, if any, charges to file.
Prior to his arrest, he had been a Greenwood Middle School assistant wrestling coach. He was a “lay coach,” which means he was employed as a coach but was not a teacher or staff member, according to Greenwood Community School Corporation.
He was arrested Tuesday afternoon at the school after he showed up for wrestling practice, Ison said.
Greenwood Superintendent Terry Terhune provided the following statement from the school corporation on the arrest:
“On Tuesday, January 30th, we learned that one of our lay coaches at Greenwood Middle School has been accused of having inappropriate communication with a student. We immediately contacted local law enforcement officials, who are conducting an investigation. The lay coach has been terminated effective Tuesday, January 30th. The safety and wellbeing of our students remains our top priority.”
