PARAGOULD, Ark. — A school faculty member who was placed on administrative leave Monday was arrested for harassment on Thursday in Greene County.
The Greene County Jail Inmate Roster shows that Paragould High School’s girls’ Head Basketball Coach Sonja Tate was arrested on two counts of harassment, a Class A misdemeanor, at 10:09 a.m. on Dec. 12, 2024. She was released at 11:22 a.m. the same morning.
The probable cause affidavit states that on Dec. 6, the Paragould Police Department was made aware of an incident at the Paragould High School. The complaint alleged there were two incidents caught on camera between Tate and a 15-year-old student. On Dec. 3, Tate struck the student in the face, and on Dec. 5, the defendant is caught on camera shoving the same student from behind. Police said camera footage corroborated both.
On Dec. 9, the Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division conducted an interview with the alleged victim, who disclosed what they feel constitutes harassment.
Arkansas § 5-71-201 states that a person commits the offense of harassment if, with purpose to harass, annoy, or alarm another person, without good cause, he or she:
(1) Strikes, shoves, kicks, or otherwise touches a person, subjects that person to offensive physical contact or attempts or threatens to do so;
(2) In a public place, directs obscene language or makes an obscene gesture to or at another person in a manner likely to provoke a violent or disorderly response;
(3) Follows a person in or about a public place;
(4) In a public place repeatedly insults, taunts, or challenges another person in a manner likely to provoke a violent or disorderly response;
(5) Engages in conduct or repeatedly commits an act that alarms or seriously annoys another person and that serves no legitimate purpose; or
(6) Places a person under surveillance by remaining present outside that person’s school, place of employment, vehicle, other place occupied by that person, or residence, other than the residence of the defendant, for no purpose other than to harass, alarm, or annoy.
Tate was placed on administrative leave, a statement released Dec. 9 confirmed. No information was released regarding the allegations.
Rebecca Worsham-Moss, the attorney representing the school district, sent the following to media outlets on Dec. 9:
The district places the utmost importance on addressing allegations of inappropriate conduct. We have been informed of allegations concerning the head girls’ basketball coach, who is currently on administrative leave. In accordance with employee protections provided under Arkansas law, the district and its superintendent are unable to provide additional comments at this time.
No other details were available.
Tate was named the head coach in 2019, K8 Sports reported. She was a gifted basketball player described as one of the best to play at Arkansas State University.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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What was she accused of?
Punching a child in the face is harassment? Assault maybe?