Pine Hills coach charged with sexual assault

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, February 23, 2000

Pine Hills Academy head football and baseball coach Anthony &uot;Tony&uot; Johnson was arrested by Gloster police Tuesday after parents of six students at the Gloster school filed sexual assault charges against him.

Johnson was charged with six counts of touching and handling children under 18.

Gloster police chief Tommy Lee said Johnson is out on $90,000 bond.

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Lee said the arrest came after parents of the female students came forward with the charges.

He said the charges are for incidents that happened last year.

&uot;We’re still looking into other statements related to the case,&uot; Lee said.

Lee said Johnson will have a preliminary hearing to determine if he will be bound over to the grand jury.

Lee said Johnson was cooperative during the arrest.

Pine Hills headmaster David Carmichael had no comment on the incident or whether Johnson has been relieved of his duties.

Johnson led the Pine Hills football team to a 10-3 record last year, as the Wildcats upset Tri-County 21-14 in the first round of the MPSA&160;Class A state playoffs.

Pine Hills lost to Tallulah Academy the following week in the second round.

Pine Hills was coming off a 3-7 season in Johnson’s first year.

Johnson, 36, came to Pine Hills Academy from Lee Academy in Marianna, Ark.