TROY, Ohio -- A former Miami East Schools teacher and coach has been indicted by a Miami County grand jury on one count of felony importuning.

Chad Widener, 37, of Casstown, was indicted on the fifth-degree felony charge earlier this week. His arraignment is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 22, in county Common Pleas Court.

An investigation involving Widener, who was coach of the girls varsity basketball team, began after parents of a Miami East High School student complained Feb. 1 to the county sheriff's office about a text message to their 15-year-old daughter.

The parents said they found the message after having issues with the girl regarding "inappropriate" emails and text messages and installing a spyware program on the computer, according to the report.

Investigators checked a message containing "sexual statements" between the girl and an unknown male that occurred Dec. 6 and, through phone records, identified Widener as the alleged writer of the message, Capt. Dave Duchak said earlier this year.

Defense lawyer Jose Lopez of Troy said Thursday, Aug. 14, he and Widener "are looking forward to the opportunity to defend the charge."

Widener submitted a letter of resignation from his jobs as teacher and coach Tuesday, Aug. 12, Miami East Superintendent Todd Rappold said Thursday. The resignation will be presented to the Board of Education next week, he said.

Widener, who was a teacher at the junior high school last year, had been employed by the district since 1995.

He was placed on paid leave Feb. 26, the day school officials were notified of the investigation.

Lopez said Widener is "deeply attached" to the Miami East school district, which he attended as a student.

He said Widener resigned to avoid the school and community going through the pain of dealing with his employment status with the criminal charge.

"There was no reason to make the community do that," Lopez said.

Widener's father, Ron, is a Miami County commissioner.

The investigation was turned over to a special prosecutor in Shelby County by Miami County Prosecutor Gary Nasal. Nasal, whose office serves as legal counsel to the county commission, said Ralph Bauer, Shelby County prosecutor, handled the case to avoid any appearance of impropriety by the local office.

Bauer said Thursday he would not comment on the indictment.

(Article courtesy of www.daytondailynews.com)