Thomas taught social studies and coached soccer at Athens High.
Less than two weeks after his arrest, the Athens High School teacher and coach accused of having a sexual relationship with a student was sentenced to five years in prison Friday.
Isaac Thomas, 35, pleaded guilty in Athens County Common Pleas Court to one count of sexual battery, a third-degree felony. Common Pleas Court Judge L. Alan Goldsberry handed Thomas his five-year prison sentence.
The five-year term is the maximum sentence for that crime, according to a release Friday from Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn's office. The release said Goldsberry also ordered Thomas to resign from his position at AHS effective immediately and permanently relinquish his teacher certificate.
Thomas was arrested by detectives from the Athens County Sheriff's Office on Jan. 27 at Athens High School. He taught social studies and was the AHS boys varsity soccer coach.
Thomas was also a facilitator and master instructor for the online Master’s in Coaching Education program at OU since 2011, according to a university "Faculty Spotlight" article.
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Upon his release from prison, Thomas must register as a Tier II sex offender and serve five years of post-release control, according to the release.
The release from Blackburn's office noted that three county government entities plan to hold training sessions at Athens County schools in the near future to teach faculty to better "recognize abuse, improve reporting and train staff to assist the victims of abuse."
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