Thursday's Internet Edition, 09:55 PM, July 02, 2009.

Michael W. Brohard, 31, was arrested after the alleged victim’s mother intercepted text messages on the girl’s cellular phone.

The victim is 13 and just finished the seventh grade at Walton Elementary/Middle School, where Brohard is a fifth grade teacher, coach and athletic director.

He coached the girls softball team and was an assistant coach in the girls basketball program at the same time he was assistant coach for the boys basketball team at Roane County High School.

The felony charge filed by Lt. Jeff Smith of the Roane Sheriff’s Dept. said the alleged victim’s mother was talking on her daughter’s phone shortly after 11 p.m. June 19th when she received a text message.

She noticed the message was from someone listed in her daughter’s phone as “Coach B.”

Smith’s complaint said the mother had been told that some three weeks earlier Brohard had sent a text to the girl that said “Hey sexy,” although the mother had not seen that message.

When the text message was received that night, the mother did not respond immediately but took the phone next door, to the home of Brohard’s estranged wife. She and three others were present in the home.

After talking to the others, the mother allegedly decided to pose as her daughter and respond to the text message.

The text conversation included “inappropriate and sexually oriented comments” Brohard sent to the girl, according to the complaint.

During part of the conversation, the mother, posing as the 13-year-old, told Brohard she had just purchased a new bikini, to which he allegedly responded “I bet u look sexy” and “U would look sexy with anything on.”

When the mother, posing as the girl, said she feared her “butt is too fat,” Brohard allegedly responded “Its Perfect.”

When she said her mother would be dropping her off at the swimming pool the next day and asked if Brohard would be there, he allegedly responded “Maybe.”

During the conversation Brohard referred to his estranged wife as a “b----.”

When she responded that the wife had been good to her, he allegedly said, “OK take her side.”

Brohard then allegedly encouraged the girl to call him, but the mother posing as her asked him to call her, saying her phone was on vibrate. That would allow her to receive a call without others in the home hearing the phone ring.

After an exchange about who would call whom, Brohard allegedly called the girl’s phone just after midnight. The incoming call was put on speaker phone and the complaint says all five persons present, including the girl’s mother and Brohard’s estranged wife, identified the voice as Brohard’s

Brohard, who now resides at his parents’ home in Spencer, was arrested last Wednesday evening and arraigned by Roane Magistrate Jason Bennett. He was released on $50,000 bond pending a preliminary hearing set for Monday.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of 2-to-10 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Police seized Brohard’s cellular phone and prosecutor Josh Downey requested a subpoena be issued to the school system for any computer that was issued to Brohard.

Brohard’s bond prohibits him from having any contact with persons under the age of 18.