OXFORD — A federal grand jury has indicted an Alabama high school football coach on charges of child molestation and trying to get the victim to lie to authorities about the incidents.
The indictment came Thursday from a grand jury in Oxford.
Dwight Bowling, 55, who coached at Smithville High School for 28 years, was indicted on one count of harassing a witness and four counts of coercing a minor into having sex.
The indictment came one day after prosecutors produced transcripts from taped conversations in which Bowling encouraged one of the alleged victims to lie about whether they”d had a sexual relationship.
Documents show investigators secretly recorded conversations between Bowling and one teenager less than two weeks ago.
Bowling faces a maximum life sentence if convicted.
He also faces charges in Monroe and Itawamba counties.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.