Documents: State began investigating ex Zavalla coach in July

CENTER, TX (KTRE) - A former Zavalla baseball coach arrested in October over allegations of improper communication and relationship with two students has been under investigation by a state agency since July.

Richard Warren Cratty Jr., 31, of Nacogdoches, is charged with second-degree online solicitation of a minor and second-degree improper relationship between educator and student.

Deputies with the Angelina County Sheriff's Office arrested Cratty twice within a week after one 16-year-old student alleged Cratty had her send him pictures of her in her lingerie and he sent her inappropriate pictures. A second student, who was 17, alleged Cratty touched her inappropriately.

Cratty's personnel file from Center ISD contains a subpoena from the Texas Education Agency, dated July 7. The subpoena states Cratty is accused of violating the following Texas Administrator Codes:

* The educator shall not intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly treat a student or minor in a manner that adversely affects or endangers the learning, physical health, mental health, or safety of the student or minor.

* The educator shall not solicit or engage in sexual conduct or a romantic relationship with a student or minor.

* The educator shall maintain appropriate professional educator-student relationships and boundaries based on a reasonably prudent educator standard.

KTRE obtained Cratty's personnel file from Center ISD after submitting an open records request.

KTRE has also submitted open records requests with the school districts of Woden, Cushing and Zavalla for Cratty's personnel file.

All three districts, which are represented by Karczewski and Bradshaw LLP, have issued a request for opinion from the Texas Attorney General's Office, stating they believe part of the files should not be released, citing a criminal investigation, among other reasons.

Haglund Law Firm represents Center ISD.

In Cratty's application to Center ISD, he stated "no" to having ever been convicted of "a violation of law other than a minor traffic violation."

However records show Cratty was arrested in 2011 on a charge of Class-C assault, after a student at Woden ISD said Cratty pulled her into an intimate hug and kissed her on the cheek.

Cratty is out of jail on a $200,000 bond.

Copyright 2016 KTRE. All rights reserved.