Former Forestview High School coach accused of sex with student

A former track coach at Forestview High School in Gastonia is facing numerous charges after allegedly having sex with a student he met at a party.

Channel 9′s Ken Lemon was in court Wednesday when John Chandler Caldwell was officially indicted for multiple counts of indecent liberties with a student and sex acts with a student.

According to testimony in court on Wednesday, Caldwell allegedly met a student when she was 17 and he was 26. They had sex multiple times between April 2018 and Aug. 2019.

WATCH: Students attacked in classrooms at Forestview High School

The victim reported the abuse after suspecting that Caldwell was grooming her younger sister for a relationship. She told police and, according to Special Deputy Attorney General Boz Zellinger, investigators found damning evidence to back her claims.

“A video was found of the victim in the defendant’s bedroom wearing a shirt and underwear only,” he said in court Wendesday.

The prosecutor said Caldwell confessed when investigators arrived at his home. Caldwell’s attorney, Rick Beam, didn’t talk about that case in court, but instead, pointed to the people behind Caldwell.

“You can see by the number of people who have shown up in support of Mr. Caldwell that he has substantial ties to this community,” Beam said.

Caldwell is the son of a former superior court judge, Jesse Caldwell. The former judge was by his son’s side in court, along with a former district attorney for Gaston County.

Due to Caldwell’s family ties to the court, a judge from Mecklenburg County was brought in to oversee the case.

In Gaston County, community ties can ensure a lower bond. After Wednesday’s hearing, Caldwell was made eligible for release on a $50,000 unsecured bond, meaning he didn’t have to go to jail.

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Earlier this year, Caldwell was named the head coach of cross country at the University of Mount Olive. In a statement Thursday, the university said after learning about the allegations against Caldwell, he is now being placed on administrative leave effective immediately.

(WATCH: ‘This can’t be his first time’: Gaston County police investigating indecent exposure)