Claudette Riley

CRILEY@NEWS-LEADER.COM

A Hollister coach and early childhood teacher was charged Wednesday with statutory rape, just days after allegations surfaced that he had an inappropriate relationship with a female student.

Calvin Lee Thomas Jr., 34, was charged with two counts of second-degree statutory rape.

Hollister Police Chief Preston Schmidt launched an investigation last week, following the allegations.

"The investigation that began on June 24, 2016 revealed that Mr. Thomas had sexual intercourse with a 16 year (old) juvenile female on more than one occasion," Schmidt wrote, in a news release. "Although charges have been filed, this case and investigation is still considered open and further charges may be forth coming."

Online court documents show police issued an arrest warrant Wednesday. The warrant carried conditions including a $50,000 bond and no contact with children under age 17.

Hollister Superintendent Brian Wilson released a statement Wednesday that the district "recently became aware that one of our staff members may have been inappropriately involved with a female student."

Thomas worked with young students with special needs. He coached track and football.

"The district immediately placed the staff member on a leave of absence and barred him from being on school premises and from having contact with students," Wilson said in the news release. "We are currently working with local law enforcement officials in investigating this matter.”

Hollister school officials told the News-Leader Wednesday that board policy gives the superintendent authority to place an employee on leave when such allegations arise.

It is not uncommon for an employee to remain on leave while an investigation, and even a criminal case, plays out. Any decision about future employment will likely be made by the school board.

Wilson, who was traveling out of state Wednesday, released a statement that the Hollister district places the "highest emphasis" on the safety of its students.

He said all applicants are required to pass criminal and child abuse background checks before they are offered a job. He said the district also checks references and contacts prior employers as part of the screening process.

A review of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website shows Thomas was hired by the Hollister district four years ago.

If convicted, Thomas faces up to seven years in prison on each felony charge.

"In spite of these efforts, there are rare occurrences where staff members violate the trust placed in them by the community. When an issue like this arises, we cooperate fully with law enforcement," Wilson said. "If the individual is found to be guilty, we make every effort to see that their teaching certificate is revoked and they are not in a position to harm students in the future.”