Dec 18, 2007 - Curtus Metzger, 41, an assistant swim coach at Kelso High School, is on trial, accused of making inappropriate comments to a 16-year-old girl on his team last school year.
BACKGROUND Kelso School District placed Metzger on paid administrative leave Oct. 2, 2006, after the two swim team members accused him of inappropriate behavior occurring sometime between Sept. 26 and 29 last year.In January, he pleaded not guilty after being charged with one count of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes. The school district has refused to renew his coaching contract. He was not a teacher at the school.
TAKING THE STAND His wife, Laurie Metzger, took the stand in his defense. She
told jurors that the 18-year-old had an unpredictable personality. Some days she would be well-dressed and bubbly; other days she looked more like the "Unabomber," wearing dark hooded sweatshirts.Laure Metzger as placed on paid administrative leave Oct. 3, 2006, for allegedly breaking a district confidentiality policy by talking to parents and students about the incident, which was under police investigation.
Metzger also said many members of the swim team didn't get along with the 16-year-old because she sometimes slacked off during practice.
"She had a few friends on the team over the years," she said. "She was one of those who didn't finish everything she said she had finished."
The district also did not renew her coaching contract.
The trial is expected to close today. The jury consisting of two women and four men will then decide the verdict.
