Richard 'Dickie' Howell charged with sex abuse of student

Richard L. "Dickie" Howell II, an accomplished Delaware wrestler who went on to become one of the state's best high school wrestling coaches, was charged Wednesday with child sex abuse and rape in what state police say was a 10-month sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student.

Howell, 50, of Wyoming – a longtime physical education/health teacher and coach at Caesar Rodney High School in Camden – surrendered to police Wednesday afternoon, Master Cpl. Gary E. Fournier said.

He repeatedly had intercourse with the girl at the high school and his home, repeatedly had her perform oral sex on him and sent nude photos of himself to her by phone, along with a video of himself masturbating, according to court documents.

Howell was charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child, 15 counts of first-degree sexual abuse of a child by a person of trust and two counts of fourth-degree rape, Fournier said.

He was committed to Vaughn Correctional Center near Smyrna after failing to post $550,000 secured bail.

Howell also was ordered to have no contact with the victim or anyone under age 18, Fournier said.

Caesar Rodney School District Superintendent Kevin Fitzgerald issued a statement about a half hour after Howell's arrest was announced, saying Howell has been suspended with pay, in accordance with teachers' negotiated agreement.

The district was informed of Howell's conduct Monday morning, he said. Police were contacted immediately, Fitzgerald said, and Howell was suspended.

"The District is fully cooperating with the investigation being conducted by the Delaware State Police," his statement said. "Delaware State laws protecting the privacy rights of public employees preclude the District from providing any additional information."

Fitzgerald's statement also was posted Wednesday evening at the top of the district's home page.

Caesar Rodney was scheduled to wrestle against St. Mark's in a home match on Wednesday night, but the event was postponed and no makeup date was announced. The Riders' next match is scheduled to be at home Jan. 21 against Sussex Tech.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, the girl – now a senior – told investigators she was a junior when she and Howell began having sexual intercourse and he began having her perform oral sex on him.

They had sexual contact numerous times at the school before the academic year ended, then in June and July, she went to his house, where they had intercourse at least twice, the court document said. After the next school year began, she told police, they had intercourse at least seven times at his home, the document said.

The girl also told police she and Howell communicated by phone, through voice and text messages, the affidavit said, noting that a forensic search of her cellphone revealed various text exchanges between her and Howell referencing meeting one another to engage in sexual intercourse.

Neither court documents nor police have said how the relationship between the girl and Howell, who is married with children, came to an end.

Two of Howell's longtime Henlopen North conference coaching rivals were surprised by the arrest.

"It's sad," Polytech wrestling coach Eric Buckson said after his Panthers defeated Cape Henlopen 33-24 on Wednesday night. "Naturally, I'm sad for the young lady involved. Sad for wrestling; I'm just sad that it happened.

"All I've known of Dickie Howell is he's just a super guy and a great coach. So I'm sad when there's a fall from grace from anybody. But, you know, at the end of the day, you're accountable to your actions. If what's happened is true, then he needs to be held accountable."

Howell was hired as Caesar Rodney's head wrestling coach in May 1991. The Riders have won eight DIAA Division I dual meet state championships under Howell, including five in a row from 2003-07.

The last two years, CR has lost to Smyrna – coached by Howell's brother, Kurt – in the Division I championship match.

Wrestlers coached by Howell also have achieved individual success. Caesar Rodney has had at least one wrestler win a DIAA individual state title in every season since 1996. Riders wrestlers won five of the 14 individual state championships in 2001 and 2004, and a total of 32 CR wrestlers coached by Howell have combined to win 53 DIAA individual titles.

Howell was a DIAA individual champion himself, winning at 105 pounds for Newark High School as a sophomore in 1980.

Buckson has coached against Howell for more than 20 years.

"I've had the highest respect for him prior to this as a coach," Buckson said. "I think he's the best coach in the state, no question. But that doesn't excuse you for your actions."

Cape Henlopen wrestling coach Chris Mattioni also was caught off guard by the arrest.

"I was totally shocked, surprised," Mattioni said. "He's been kind of the icon of Delaware wrestling since I've been here. This is my 20th year, and the guy has been a hell of a coach. I'm just shocked."

State police began their investigation recently after they were told a teacher "was involved in illicit conduct with a female student," Fournier said.

The sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl began as early as March 2014, Fournier said, and lasted until late December.

Howell and the student "engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior at least nine times on school grounds, as well as a number of times at his Wyoming residence," Fournier said.

Howell is the second Caesar Rodney High teacher to be charged similarly since 2012. That June, teacher Andrew Chrzanowski was charged with having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old female student.

Police declined to release more details about Howell investigation. "Because of the sensitivity of this case, and in consideration of the victim, only limited information will be released," Fournier said.

He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Jan. 23, according to court records.

Staff reporters Brad Myers and Kevin Tresolini contributed to this article.

Contact robin brown at (302) 324-2856 or rbrown@delawareonline.com. Find her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter @rbrowndelaware.