Forty five year old Christopher Griffin of Lake Charles has been a part time track coach for Hamilton Christian Academy. He was first arrested Wednesday and again Friday on another charge. He's been booked for sexual battery and simple battery.
Calcasieu Chief Deputy Stitch Guillory says the alleged incidents happened at the LCB track. "We had two different complaints come forward Mr. Griffin. One where Mr. Griffin was charged with sexual battery, inappropriately touching a female athlete. On the second arrest he was charged with simple battery. Both of those incidents involved young ladies that ran track for Hamilton Christian Academy."
Guillory says one alleged incident happened within the past week or so while the other allegedly happened a while back. "Right now, we don't know if there are any other victims out there. The first victim came forward and then the second victim followed, came forward after the first victim came forward. Mr. Griffin was a part time employee at Hamilton Christian.He was an athletic trainer for the track program."
Such cases are typically presented to a parish grand jury. "Our detectives are still gathering information and we'll compile a report and forward it to the Da's office," said Guillory.
A conviction of sexual battery carries a sentence of between 25 and 29 years in prison at least 25 of which must be done at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence. Simple battery is a misdemeanor that carries up to six months behind bars or a one thousand dollar fine.
Griffin's bond is a total of $40,000. At last word he was still being processed at the jail.
School officials say they are cooperating with law enforcement in the investigation of the off campus incidents and urged their parents and students to pray for those allegedly involved.
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The following is a Press Release from the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office:
On March 14, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office arrested Christopher Griffin, 45, of Lake Charles, a local high school part-time track coach at Hamilton Christian Academy, after receiving a complaint regarding Griffin having inappropriate sexual contact with an 18-year-old student.
Griffin was booked into Calcasieu Correctional Center and charged with sexual battery and released on a $15,000 bond set by Judge Kent Savoie.
Today, CPSO has issued a warrant for Griffin after further investigation revealed he had inappropriate contact with another student who is 17 years of age.
Griffin was arrested and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center on the warrant for simple battery.
Judge Michael Canaday has set his bond at $25,000.
CPSO Detective William Wilcox is the lead investigator on this case.
(Source: CPSO)
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