Man arrested for lewdness was middle school teacher, coach
A local middle school teacher and basketball coach was arrested and charged with misdemeanor lewdness charges alleging he inappropriately touched female students, authorities said.
Alfphonso Washington, 47, was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on Tuesday after appearing in court for the two counts of open and gross lewdness, police said. He’s being held on $50,000 bail pending a Sept. 10 preliminary hearing.
Washington’s attorney, Michael Gowdey, says the case is blown out of proportion and there was no sexual contact between his client and the alleged victims.
Police said the allegations were initially reported in May.
According to Clark County School District spokeswoman Melinda Malone, Washington had not been assigned to a school for the 2013-2014 school year and has not been on a school district campus since the investigation started in May. He is on paid administrative leave.
He has taught in the district since 2003, Malone said.
Washington coached girls’ basketball and taught last school year at Lied Middle School, near Tropical Parkway and Decatur Boulevard.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Contact reporter Colton Lochhead at clochhead@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4638. Follow him on Twitter @ColtonLochhead
