http://www.idahostatesman.com/102/story/81904.html
Coach charged with sexual battery
Centennial High School athletic director says arrestof Lauren K. Palmer "?blindsided' school officials
By Patrick Orr and Bill Roberts - Idaho Statesman
Edition Date: 05/01/07
An assistant varsity softball coach at Centennial High School is on unpaid leave after she was arrested on suspicion of having inappropriate sexual contact with a 16-year-old female student in a public park.
Lauren K. Palmer, 22, is charged with felony sexual battery of a minor.
According to Ada County Sheriff's reports, a deputy spotted a car in the Eagle Sports Complex on Old Horseshoe Bend Road about 1 a.m. Saturday "? when the park was officially closed "? and went to investigate.
The deputy saw two females "? later identified as Palmer and a 16-year-old girl "? outside of the car, and they were trying to get back into the car when the deputy arrived, according to reports. After interviewing Palmer and the teen, the deputy arrested Palmer on suspicion of inappropriately touching the girl, sheriff's officials said.
Palmer left the Ada County Jail Monday on $10,000 bond. A no-contact order was issued, barring Palmer from contacting the 16-year-old. The order also bars her from having any unsupervised contact with minors.
Felony sexual battery of a minor age 16 or 17 is punishable by up to 25 years in prison and up to a $50,000 fine. Anyone found guilty of the charge must register as a sex offender for life. Palmer will have a preliminary hearing on the charge May 14.
Centennial High School officials notified the girls' softball team Monday.
The arrest "blindsided us as much as it has anybody else," Centennial Athletic Director Jon Watson said.
"Not only do all our coaches go through a background check and fingerprinting process, they also sign a code of conduct after their background check," Watson said, stressing that the school's main priority is to provide a safe and secure atmosphere for student athletes.
"It's definitely been Monday all day," he said. "Going into tournaments the kids have had a great season and then all of a sudden "? bam."
"It is just shocking," Meridian School District Superintendent Linda Clark said.
District officials learned about the arrest Monday morning and placed Palmer on administrative leave without pay. Officials have yet to decide who will replace Palmer while the investigation continues.
Palmer is a 2003 graduate of Centennial High, where she played softball and was named to the 5A Southern Idaho Conference first team.
School officials said the teen Palmer is accused of inappropriately touching is a Centennial student, but they would not say whether she is a softball player.
Palmer was a coach at the school but was not an instructor, officials said. She did occasional substitute teaching, they said.
Statesman reporter Tom Fox contributed to this story. To offer story ideas or comments, contact reporter Patrick Orr at [email protected] or 373-6619.
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