HENDERSON (KTNV) — A Clark County School District high school teacher was arrested last week amid an investigation into allegations that he raped a student.
A report obtained by Channel 13 reveals additional details about the investigation that led to the arrest of 35-year-old Anthony Coffield, who is identified in police records as the theater director at Green Valley High School.
According to the report, the Henderson Police Department's investigation began on Aug. 18 when the boyfriend of a former Green Valley High School student called police and reported that Coffield had sexually assaulted his girlfriend.
In an interview with police, the student told detectives the assault happened on May 21, a few days before her high school graduation.
The student told investigators she had walked back to school after receiving an email from Coffield inviting her to pick up her theater cords for graduation. When she arrived, she told police that Coffield started kissing her and pushed her against the door by "grabbing her around the neck," the report states. The report details the student's account of being raped by Coffield for approximately 25 minutes.
According to investigators, the student claimed she tried to resist and told Coffield to stop, to which he allegedly replied, "You know you don't want to do that."
"As she was leaving, Coffield told [the student], 'Alright, let me give you your cords,'" the report states. "After being handed her cord, [the student] advised she couldn't think clearly but was able to ask Coffield 'Why,' to which Coffield replied "do you know when you see someone, like you really love your partner...And you see someone you just gotta have them.'"
When she again asked Coffield why, the report states he responded, "I dunno, there is just something about you I was willing to risk losing my job and girlfriend over." The student told police she also asked Coffield if he had ever done this to another student, and he replied "F— no!" according to the report.
The student told police Coffield had not used any protection during the assault, the report states. The next month, she told police, she believed she became pregnant and had a miscarriage. According to the report, the student told police she had taken an at-home pregnancy test that came back positive. She claims she became "extremely depressed for about 2 weeks' time, laying in her bed most of the time, crippled by depression" and that she "stopped eating and caring for herself." When she took another pregnancy test around this time, she told police, the results were negative.
In an interview with a Henderson police detective, Coffield recalled emailing the student to collect her theater cord for graduation, according to the report, which states he said, "I think she came and I grabbed it. I gave it to her, and then she left, and that was it."
Coffield also denied taking the student to the theater costume area where she claimed the assault happened, the report states, telling investigators, "No. I, like I'm telling you, I don't recall ever. Why would I have done that?"
"Coffield then asked about the allegations against him, and I asked him what all took place during the cord pickup," the detective wrote. "Coffield said there may have been a 1 or 2 minute conversation, but he wasn't sure. Coffield said he liked his job, and then said, 'Okay, so I understand what the allegation is now.' Coffield then stated he wanted a lawyer present...After which he said, 'I understand that there's an allegation ahead of me.' And, 'I understand there's probably going to be a court date that goes into this.'"
The report also documents the results of a forensic test of the student's underwear, noting the conclusion that "the DNA (Semen) located inside the crotch of the panties, could have only been produced by Coffield, 'or any of his paternal male relatives.'"
Coffield was arrested on Wednesday, Nov. 26 and booked into the Henderson Detention Center for sexual assault and sexual conduct with a pupil. In a statement to Channel 13 about the investigation, a Henderson police spokesperson noted that, "At this time, investigators do not believe there are additional victims in this case."
CCSD employment records, reviewed by investigators, revealed Coffield was hired in March 2011 as a substitute teacher. He became a full-time teacher at Spring Valley High School in August 2013 and transferred to Green Valley High School in August 2022. Detectives note that Coffield was interviewed by Henderson police on Aug. 18 and "was placed on leave from his teaching position as of that date."
Channel 13 reached out to CCSD and received an email shared with Green Valley High School families.
Parents/Guardians,
This is Green Valley High School Principal Kent Roberts. The safety of our students is the number one priority at Green Valley High School. As always, we want to keep you informed of important matters happening within our school community.
An employee assigned to our school was arrested by the Henderson Police Department on charges related to an inappropriate relationship with a student. The employee will not be allowed on campus.
The Henderson Police Department is the lead investigative agency. We wish to assure you that we will cooperate fully with law enforcement in their investigation.
Please know that this is a police investigation and, as school officials, we do not have additional information to share. However, if you have questions about your child, please contact the school at (702) 799-0950. Thank you.
Coffield is scheduled to appear for a felony arraignment in Henderson Justice Court at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2, according to court records.
