By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

COLUMBIANA – A 57-year-old Chelsea High School teacher and coach who has been accused of having sexual contact with a student is scheduled to appear in Shelby County Circuit Court in November, according to court records.

Donald “Donnie” Teague, who lists an address in the 500 block of Reach Way in Birmingham, was arrested by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office on May 15 and charged with one count of a school employee having sexual contact with a student under the age of 19, according to court records. The victim is a female student at Chelsea High School, according to the sheriff’s office.

He originally was scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 8, but his hearing date was rescheduled to Nov. 3 at 8:30 a.m.

Teague was indicted on the charge May 12. According to the indictment, Teague “intentionally and knowingly engaged with a female student under the age of 19 in sexual contact” on or about March 14. He was released from the Shelby County Jail the same day he was arrested after posting a $30,000 bond.

The incident was reported to the school resource officer at Chelsea High School March 18, and an investigation was assigned to the Sheriff’s Office’s Criminal Investigations Division. After the investigation, the evidence was presented to a Shelby County grand jury, which opted to indict Teague. Teague was booked into the Shelby County Jail March 15, according to court records.

Teague has been placed on leave as the investigation is ongoing, said Shelby County Schools spokeswoman Cindy Warner, who issued the following statement May 15 after Teague’s arrest: “The Shelby County Schools District always takes these types of situations seriously.  The school district took immediate action when these allegations were brought to our attention and began a thorough investigation.  Because the investigation is still ongoing, we are not at liberty to discuss the case.  However, we are cooperating with the Sheriff’s Department in this investigation.”