Simeon Track Coach Charged With Sexual Assault

Coach accused of having inappropriate sexual conduct with two teen girls ordered held on $300,000 bail

A volunteer coach at a South Side Chicago high school was ordered held on $300,000 bail on Wednesday amid charges he had inappropriate sexual contact with three teenage girls.

Gerald Gaddy, a track and field coach at Simeon Career Academy, was charged Wednesday with aggravated criminal sexual abuse, criminal sexual assault and aggravated battery.

Gaddy, 42, is accused of having inappropriate conduct with girls ages 15, 16 and 17 between February 2013 and June 2014.

Prosecutors allege Gaddy fondled the 16-year-old girl's buttocks on multiple occasions. He also allegedly made comments about her body and being his girlfriend.

He called the 17-year-old into his office numerous times, prosecutors say. In April he allegedly asked her to remove her pants and bend over, then sodomized her.

Prosecutors said he squeezed the 15-year-old's buttocks in his office.

He has since been barred from Chicago Public Schools activities, according to CPS spokesman Joel Hood.

"A volunteer Track and Field coach at Simeon Career Academy High School has been barred from CPS activities while the District continues its investigation into allegations of misconduct," Hood said in a statement.

Parents told NBC 5 they're alarmed by the news.

"My first reaction is being shocked by the situation," one parent who asked to remain nameless said. "That's horrible, honestly. Obviously the first thing you want to do is protect your child. I just don't know what to say, I'm speechless."

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