Ernie Ammons, a former Kent-Meridian High School teacher and coach, faces a January trial date on a charge of communication with a minor for immoral purposes. - Kent Reporter, file photo
Kent Reporter, file photo
Ernie Ammons, a former Kent-Meridian High School teacher and coach, faces a January trial date on a charge of communication with a minor for immoral purposes.

Former Kent-Meridian teacher, coach faces January trial date on sex charge

By STEVE HUNTER
Kent Reporter Courts, government reporter
October 22, 2012 · 12:26 PM

A trial date has been scheduled for Jan. 15 for a former Kent-Meridian High School teacher and track coach charged with communication with a minor for immoral purposes.

Ernie Ammons, 37, of Black Diamond, had a court hearing last week at King County Superior Court in Kent to set the trial date, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.

Ammons pleaded not guilty to the charge in December. He is free on bail.

King County prosecutors charge Ammons sent sexually explicit test messages to a 16-year-old girl at the school. Ammons taught health and physical education at Kent-Meridian. He also coached boys and girls track and cross country at the school.

The Kent School District placed Ammons on paid administrative leave last November when the allegations first came to the district's attention. Ammons resigned from the district in January.

The court ordered that Ammons be prohibited from teaching, coaching, volunteering or holding any position of authority over minors while the case is pending.

If convicted as charged, Ammons could be sentenced up to one year in jail and fined $5,000. He also would have to register as a sex offender for a minimum of 10 years because it is a sex offense.

Contact Kent Reporter Courts, government reporter Steve Hunter at shunter@kentreporter.com or 253-872-6600, ext. 5052.

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.

So keep your comments:

  • Civil
  • Smart
  • On-topic
  • Free of profanity

We ask that all participants own their words by logging in with their Facebook account. It's a simple process that will take seconds and helps keep our comments free of trolls, cranks, and “drive-by” commenters. We reserve the right to remove comments from anyone using screen names, pseudonyms or false identities. Please refer to our Terms of Use for full detail on participating on our site.