Ex-coach pleads guilty to student sex crime

Louisburg, N.C. — A former Louisburg High School coach has been placed on probation for having a sexual relationship with a student.

James Collier, 40, of 401 W. Noble St., Louisburg, pleaded guilty Monday to taking indecent liberties with a student. He coached Louisburg High's football and was the school's athletic director until he resigned in December.

The 17-year-old female student is pregnant, but no one has confirmed that Collier is the father of the child.

The girl's parents requested that Collier receive a suspended sentence and be allowed to remain in contact with their daughter, Assistant Franklin County District Attorney Annette Sellars said.

During a January court hearing, the parents told a judge that their daughter was depressed, wasn't eating well and wasn't taking prescribed prenatal vitamins. At the time, the judge deemed contact with Collier to be in the best interests of the girl and her unborn child.