A Northwest Whitfield High School coach has been arrested for not reporting an alleged rape at a teen party.
Lamar Cofield, a football and basketball coach, was charged with failure to report suspected child abuse.
Cofield, 34, of Frontier Drive in Whitfield County, was a high school football standout and played in college at Gulf State Community College and Vorhees College.
In connection with the same party, Ashley Turner, 33, of Wheat Drive, was charged with furnishing alcohol to persons under the age of 21.
Sheriff Scott Whitfield said on Sept. 29, 2017, "the family of a high school student reported that she had been raped while attending a party during the first of July. An investigation was initiated by the Whitfield County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
"During the investigation, it was determined that five high school kids attended a party at a residence in the Pleasant Grove area during the evening hours of July 1, 2017. One of the boys at the party lived at the residence. Alcohol was being consumed by the kids at the party.
"An adult female (Ashley Turner) and relative to the student living at the residence was also at the party. The underage students consumed alcohol in her presence and Ms. Turner consumed alcohol with them.
"During the party an employee of the Whitfield County School System and coach at Northwest High School came by the residence and stayed in the residence for over an hour. While at the residence he observed the students consuming alcohol.
"During the time he was at the party one of the female students made him and the adult female aware that she had just been sexually assaulted.
"The school employee did not report the assault or activity of the students to authorities or school personnel. Mr. Cofield is a mandatory reporter since he is employed by the school system."