A Center Independent School District athletic trainer is accused of sexual misconduct with a student.
Christopher Lemoine, 40, was arrested and charged with improper relationship between educator and student, a second-degree felony punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison.
The offense includes sexual contact or sexually explicit communication with a student, regardless of the student’s age.
Lemoine has since resigned from the East Texas school district.
In a press release Wednesday, the Center Police Department stated that it was made aware of an incident involving a Center ISD employee, identified as Christopher Lemoine, who was employed as an athletic trainer.
“Upon receiving the report, the Center Police Department immediately initiated an investigation in coordination with Shelby County District Attorney Karren Price. During the investigation, probable cause was established to arrest Christopher Lemoine on one count of Inappropriate Relationship Between Educator and Student,” wrote Lt. Andrew Williams, the department’s public information officer.
Williams said the investigation is “active and ongoing.” Anyone with information regarding Lemoine is encouraged to contact the Center Police Department at (936) 598-2788.
According to Center ISD Superintendent Jake Henson, the district is cooperating with law enforcement and the district attorney’s office, and has reported Lemoine to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, the Texas Education Agency, and the State Board of Educator Certification.
“Center ISD takes these matters seriously and remains committed to the safety and well-being of our students and school community,” stated Henson.
Both the police and school district indicated that no further information would be released at this time.
Lemoine was booked into the Shelby County Jail on November 5. He has since been released on a $250,000 bond.
State records show Lemoine has been certified to teach in Texas since 2015. His current teaching certificate is under review.
In just the past few years, hundreds of Texas educators have been accused of sex crimes involving students and other minors.
Thousands of educator sexual misconduct complaints have been reported to the TEA since the agency began keeping organized records in 2021.
