FRANKLIN — A former Franklin Public Schools football coach has pleaded not guilty to felony charges due to an alleged relationship with a student.
Anthony Campana, 37, has been charged with first degree sexual abuse by a school employee, a Class 2A felony.
Campana had been employed with Franklin Public Schools as a high school football coach and paraprofessional.
Campana filed a written plea of not guilty to the charges on Jan. 20. The date for the preliminary hearing that was initially set for Jan. 27 has been continued until March 10.
Campana filed bail in the amount of ten percent of $10,000.
According to an affidavit submitted in Franklin County Court, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a parent who wanted to report that their 16-year-old daughter had a much older boyfriend.
A deputy responded to the parent’s workplace where they located Campana in the vehicle with the 16-year-old.
The 16-year-old told law enforcement that she and Campana had been communicating since she was 14 and they had become sexually active after she turned 16.
At the time, Campana was cited for contributing to the delinquency of a minor and released pending further investigation.
He was later arrested for the felony charge on Jan. 9 and booked into jail.
