CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – A former Tennessee high school basketball coach has been cleared of charges of failing to report child sexual abuse after a freshman player was assaulted by older teammates.
Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Don Poole ruled Friday that the case against Andre Montgomery of Ooltewah High School should be dismissed. Montgomery was indicted in May on four counts of failing to report child sexual abuse.
Poole said when a victim is 13-17 years old, the Tennessee statute that Montgomery was accused of violating applies only to cases in which the attacker is a parent or someone who lives in the same household as the victim.
The case stemmed from a Dec. 22 incident. Police said a freshman was assaulted with a pool cue by teammates in an apparent hazing incident.
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