Former teacher goes to jail for inappropriate relationship with student
WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas - Former McNeil High School teacher Christopher Cotten pleaded guilty to the felony charges of indecency with a child and and improper relationship with an educator and a student. He was sentenced to three years for each charge, but will serve those sentences at the same time. He turned himself into the Williamson County Sheriff's office shortly after his court appearance on Wednesday.
By law, when Cotten is released, he must register as a sex offender for life.
His victim and her parents were in the Williamson County courtroom for the plea. The Williamson County District Attorney's office tells Fox 7, the family was on board with the deal.
When Cotten was arrested and charged in April 2015, court records show the Math teacher and Cross Country coach had been sending his sixteen-year-old victim explicit texts.
The Round Rock School District hired Cotten in 2004. Before that he worked at a school in Pflugerville. And until March 2000 he taught at Stephen F. Austin High. As Fox 7 uncovered, his contract there was not renewed. Cotten's AISD personnel file revealed a letter from the school's prinicipal. In it he talks about inappropriate contact between cotten and one of his students.
At the time there was no law in place to prohibit an inappropriate teacher student relationships. It wouldn't be passed until 2003.
Round Rock ISD and Pflugerville ISD said they did not know that AISD had fired Cotten.