Coach accused of inappropriate touching of student

A former coach at the Davenport School District is awaiting the conclusion of a state investigation into allegations he inappropriately touched a female student and made statements of a sexual nature.

Details of Clarence “Skip” Pauls’ actions are sketchy.

In June, Davenport school officials filed a letter of complaint with the state Office of Professional Practices, which investigates certified teachers.

Pauls is the coach who led the Davenport High School football team to two state titles in recent years. He has been employed with the school district since 1983. Pauls was most recently the high school football coach and elementary physical education teacher.

Under advice of his attorney, Pauls declined to comment. His lawyer could not be reached for comment.

The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office investigated the matter and forwarded the papers to the prosecutor’s office, which declined to press charges.

“Being a small community, I’m not sure how much we want to get into,” said Undersheriff Wade Magers.

The Lincoln County prosecuting attorney’s office sent a letter to the Sheriff’s Office that said the documented offenses did not rise to the level of criminal assault.

The letter also said the comments and actions appeared inappropriate, “and cause for concern and embarrassment.”

The evidence did not support a charge of communication with a teenage high school girl for immoral purposes or criminal assault, according to the prosecutor’s office.

Pauls is on administrative leave while state investigators pursue the case.

“Everybody knows about this case,” said Gary Greene, superintendent of the Davenport district. “This is a small town.”

A new football coach was hired to replace Pauls.

This is not the first time the district has had a coach accused of sexual offenses.

In 1997, under a different superintendent, a U.S. District Court jury found that the school failed to protect a Davenport High student from Charles “C.J.” Jungblom, a counselor and girls’ basketball coach, who forced the student to appear in pornographic videos. The jury awarded almost $4 million to the former student and her family.

Jungblom pleaded guilty in 1994 to sexual exploitation of a child and was sentenced to five years in federal prison.

In an interview with the Seattle Times in 2003, Jungblom said he was collecting retirement benefits and umpiring girls and adult softball games.

Greene said he did not believe the Jungblom case has any connection to the current situation with Pauls.