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Travis Turner, the fugitive high school football coach wanted on child porn charges, is not the first teacher from Union High School to face allegations of underage solicitation, it has emerged.
Turner, 46, is the head football coach of the Virginia team but was last seen entering the woods near his home as special agents headed to interview him as part of an ongoing investigation.
Remarkably, it has now emerged that Turner is not the first coach at the tight-knit school to be accused of similar crimes, after Timothy Lee Meador was jailed two years ago.
Per KATV and WYMT, Meador - then a teacher at the school in Big Stone Gap, Virginia - was arrested and charged on one count of child solicitation and two counts of indecent liberties.
According to the Commonwealth's Attorney, he later pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent liberties with a child and served one year and three months in prison.
Meador, now 30, was immediately banned from the school and remains active on the Virginia State Police Sex Offender Registry.
Missing high school football coach Travis Turner is now wanted on five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor
Turner is pictured alongside is wife, Leslie, who has called for prayers to find her husband
Timothy Lee Meador (left) also worked at Union High School and remains active on the Sex Offender Registry. Tyler Jay Tibbs (right) was arrested on similar charges earlier this year. He worked at a different school a 25-minute drive away
Incredibly, a third high school employee in the same Wise County School System was also arrested and charged earlier this year on three counts of carnal knowledge and one count of taking indecent liberties with a child by a person in a custodial/supervisory relationship.
Tyler Jay Tibbs, 28, who worked at Coeburn Middle School - a short 25-minute drive from Union High School - was arrested in August, before being taken to Southwest Virginia Regional Jail.
It was later reported that he was bonded out of Duffield Regional Jail on a $25,000 bond, and the investigation into his alleged crimes is believed to be ongoing.
Cops in Virginia, meanwhile, have this week been utilizing search and rescue teams, drones and K9 units to track down Turner after he mysteriously vanished.
He is wanted on five counts of possessing child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor.
Earlier on Tuesday, the coach's wife broke her silence on his charges exclusively to the Daily Mail.
Turner appeared upbeat about his undefeated team in an eerie resurfaced clip from days before his disappearance in Virginia's Appalachian Mountains.
A younger Turner is seen alongside his wife, Leslie. The couple lives in Western Virginia
'It's going to be a battle here … and our kids will be ready,' the 46-year-old told the Union Sports Network on November 15 about an upcoming opponent. 'Their coaches do a great job. They're very athletic… They're strong up front and they're just well coached.'
At the time, Turner was discussing his Bears' next playoff game against Graham – a contest Union would go on to win, 12-0, on Saturday to improve to 11-0 on the season.
That game was played without Turner, who'd gone missing days earlier.
In a since-deleted Facebook post, his wife, Leslie, offered the following update on Saturday: 'I just wanted to get on here for a second to clear up something, as of right now, 10:25 PM on Friday night, Travis is missing, & that's all we know.
'We love him & need him here with us. Thank you to everyone who has reached out with love & support. It means more than you know. Just keep praying that he comes home.'
Turner's sudden disappearance came after he led Union to an undefeated season
An attorney representing the family released a statement on their behalf Tuesday.
'I speak today on behalf of Coach Turner’s family,' attorney Adrian Collins said in the statement provided to WCYB's Kristen Quon. 'We remain prayerful for his safe return and for everyone affected by the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
'We trust God to bring truth and clarity in His time. Any allegations should be addressed through the proper legal process—not through speculation or rumor. We ask the public and media to show compassion, accuracy, and respect for the family’s privacy. No questions will be taken.'
VSP are now asking anyone with information about his disappearance to contact Division 4 at 276-484-9483 or email [email protected].
