Garris arrested, charged with having sex with a student

By Associated Press
Published in Sports on July 13, 2016 1:48 PM

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The Associated Press

La GRANGE -- A teacher at North Lenoir High School has been charged with having sex with a student.

According to a statement from the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office, Donnell Gordon Garris III was arrested Tuesday and charged with six felony counts of a sexual act with a 16-year-old student.

Garris was a health and physical education teacher and head baseball coach. Lenoir County Public Schools spokesman Robin Roberson said Garris immediately resigned from his position.

The arrest was made after a tip was sent to LCPS officials, which led to an investigation into a possible relationship between a student and teacher. The statement says detectives were able to establish proof of a relationship and that the incidents occurred on school property during school-permitted activities.

"We're not able to determine how long it was going on at this point, but we were able to determine that there was a relationship," Maj. Ryan Dawson of the LCSO said. "There was sexual activity and that it had occurred very recently."

Dawson commended the school's response.

"Because of their notification, vital pieces of evidence were able to be recovered and we were able to confront the suspect and interview other witnesses," Dawson said.

Garris was jailed on a $100,000 secured bond, but made bail late Tuesday evening. He was expected to appear before a judge this morning. It's unclear if Garris has an attorney.

According to authorities, the investigation remains open and more charges could be brought against Garris.

(Editor's note: Additional information for this story was obtained from WITN and the Kinston Free Press.)

Baseball

RICHMOND, Va. -- The National Federation of State High School Associations has directed its members to regulate the number of pitches a high school player can throw in a game amid growing concerns about overworking young arms.

The federation did not provide a specific number, but a limit must be established by next season, said Elliot Hopkins, the NFHS director of sports and student services. The limits will go into effect in the spring of 2017.

Every state plus the District of Columbia are federation members, Hopkins said. Each state except Michigan has its own sports medicine advisory committee that will likely be involved in settling on a specific number.

Some states have already established pitching limits. North Carolina is not listed among the group.