Columbia high school teacher accused of having sex with student
The Boone County Sheriff’s Department is investigating sexual allegations against a Columbia high school teacher and wrestling coach.
According to public court documents, deputies searched Zachary Arnold’s home after a 16-year-old Battle High School student told her counselor that she and Arnold had sex.
Arnold is currently a welding teacher at Battle High School and the wrestling coach at Hickman High School.
Boone County prosecutors have not filed charges against Arnold and he has yet to be arrested.
ABC 17 News obtained a copy of the search warrant for Arnold’s home and it shows deputies were searching for any evidence that pertained to the possible offenses. Law enforcement seized his iPad and a Lenovo ThinkPad, both of which are school-issued and not for personal use.
Investigators are very tight-lipped about the case and would not talk on camera.
Columbia Public Schools officials will not comment either. A spokesperson for the district said she could not comment on a personnel matter.
The court documents show that on Nov. 21, a 16-year-old female student at Battle told her counselor she was involved in a sexual relationship with Arnold.
The documents also claim the two exchanged sexual text messages and Arnold took sexual photos of the student.
According to the documents, investigators contacted Arnold and asked him to come in for an interview. He declined, and instead contacted his attorney.
The search warrant was filed on Nov. 22, seeking evidence pertaining to the offense of statutory rape and sexual exploitation of a child. Nearly a month later, Arnold has not been charged for a crime.
