KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) — A former physical education teacher and High School Basketball coach with the Portage School System has cut a deal with prosecutors to avoid a second trial on charges he had an inappropriate relationship with a 17-year-old student.
At his first trial, Cory McNeal was found not guilty on one charge and a mistrial was declared on the three other counts.
He was due to go to trial this week, but instead an agreement was reached, McNeal pled guilty to Felonious Assault, a four year felony, and in exchange the three other charges will be dropped.
McNeal claims the relationship was limited to exchanging lewd photos by cell phone and the prosecutor’s office concedes it’s only a crime because the teen was a student in the same school district.
Sentencing is December 15.
McNeal resigned soon after the charges were filed in 2015.
