ASHVILLE — A former Ashville High School teacher and coach was arrested Thursday morning and charged with the rape of a student.Donnie Joel McKay, 34, of Ashville turned himself in at the St. Clair County Jail in Ashville after he was indicted by a grand jury for second-degree rape, sodomy and sexual abuse.
St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Gary Cone said McKay was released shortly after his arrest after posting a $10,000 bond on the three-count indictment.
Assistant District Attorney Lamar Williamson said the alleged incidents happened during the spring of 2005.
"At the time of the alleged incidents, she (the victim) was a student at Ashville High School and under the age of 16," Williamson said. "We got the case about one month ago but wanted to expedite the case because of the nature of the allegations, and Mr. McKay is currently employed with another school system."
Jim Carr, superintendent of Blount County schools, said McKay is a Locust Fork High School teacher and is a junior high football coach with the Blount County School System.
Carr said Thursday afternoon he was unaware that McKay was arrested Thursday morning.
St. Clair County Schools Superintendent Tom Sanders said, "This is a very unfortunate situation but at this time, we believe the charges that have been brought against Mr. McKay stem from alleged incidents that may have occurred when he was no longer employed with the St. Clair County School System."
McKay taught at Ashville High for three years, but his contract was non-renewed on May 9, 2005, by the St. Clair County Board of Education. McKay also served one year as girls’ varsity softball coach at Ashville High.
"This is not an indictment on the good teachers in the St. Clair County School System, but an indictment of one man whose profession happens to be a school teacher," Williamson said Thursday.
McKay could face more than 40 years in prison and up to $22,000 in fines if convicted of the three charges against him.
Williamson said rape in the second degree is defined as someone having sex with a minor younger than 16 years of age; second-degree sodomy is defined as deviate sexual intercourse with a person younger than 16; and second-degree sexual abuse is the inappropriate touching of a minor younger than 16.
When contacted Thursday, McKay said that on the advise of his attorney, he could not make any comments about the matter.
