UPDATED: District suspends Howell with pay
CAMDEN, DELAWARE (1/14/2015) Caesar Rodney wrestling coach and teacher Richard L. “Dickie” Howell II is accused of having sex with a student in the high school and at his home, state police said today.
Howell, 50, of Wyoming, was involved with a 17-year-old girl, police said, as early as March and until late December of 2014.
The two engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior at least nine times on school grounds as well as a number of times at his home, police said.
Howell turned himself in to detectives at Troop 3 near Camden this afternoon and was charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child, 15 counts of sexual abuse of a child by a person of trust and two counts of fourth-degree rape, police said.
He was committed to Vaughn Correctional Center near Smyrna in lieu of $550,000 secured bond.
Howell also was ordered to have no contact with the victim or anyone under age 18.
In addition to being head wresting coach, the school’s website lists Howell as a health and physical education teacher.
Dr. Kevin Fitzgerald, superintendent of the Caesar Rodney School District, issued a statement saying the district received information concerning Howell’s conduct on Monday and it was passed along to state police immediately.
“Howell was suspended with pay, as per the negotiated teacher’s agreement,” Fitzgerald said.
He said the district is cooperating with state police in the investigation.
“Delaware state laws protecting the privacy rights of public employees preclude the District from providing any additional information,” Fitzgerald said.