Teacher's aide denies charges in sex-texting case

This from H-L:

RICHMOND — A Madison Middle School teacher's assistant admitted that he exchanged inappropriate text messages with a student, but said he is not guilty of the crime with which he was charged last week, according to a statement released Monday.

Brandon Clay Rousey, 23, was arrested Nov. 17 and charged with unlawful use of electronic means to induce a minor to engage in sexual or other prohibited activities. The Madison County Sheriff's Department said Rousey sent more than 100 text messages to a 13-year-old student in which he requested sexual favors from the teen-ager....

The sheriff's department has said that as many as eight girls could have had similar contact with Rousey, but the teacher's assistant denied that more than one student was involved...

The sheriff's department began to investigate allegations against Rousey after two sets of parents contacted the department Nov. 16 about Rousey's relationship with their 13-year-old daughters. The next day, Rousey admitted to deputies that he had sent messages to one of those girls, the department said...