Former coach pleads guilty, avoids jail

A former Ellender High School football coach avoided jail time this week after pleading guilty to indecent behavior with a teenager.

Timothy Betts entered his plea last week in a Terrebonne Parish courtroom.

Per terms of the guilty plea, Betts will be forced to register as a sex offender. He will also serve five years probation.

Betts was arrested in June 2011 at the school’s campus – just months after being hired as the team’s head football coach.

He was initially charged with sexual battery after authorities claimed that he had a sexual relationship with a female student who was a manager with the football program.

But that charge was not pursued in criminal proceedings, per the victim’s wishes.

Betts was hired to guide the Patriots’ football program in January 2011.

He earned his position after serving as a touted player at Troy University and also in the professional ranks with the Bayou Bucks.

Betts was hired at Ellender after working as a coach at Oaklawn Junior High School.

With Betts’ criminal case now complete, he will now face his victim’s family in civil court.

In spring 2012, the family filed a civil suit against both Betts and the Terrebonne Parish School Board.

That civil case remains ongoing.

Tim Betts