A grand jury last week declined to indict a former Jefferson County Public Schools basketball coach accused of assaulting and strangling a student.
Richard Gatewood, 38, was arrested at Moore High School February 7 after allegedly getting into a verbal argument with a middle school student in the gym, slamming the boy down and placing him in a chokehold, “effectively strangling him,” according to an arrest report.
Police were notified by a school staffer. The incident was caught on school video and Gatewood admitted to “striking and slamming” the juvenile, according to the report.
But on April 18, a Jefferson County grand jury issued a “no true bill” on assault and strangulation charges, dismissing the case.
Gatewood had pleaded not guilty and was out on bond.
Gatewood coached the varsity Moore basketball team and was a school administrator.
Jefferson County Public Schools Spokeswoman Carolyn Callahan said as of March 2, Gatewood is no longer a Jefferson County Public Schools employee.
Source: WDRB
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