Former Katy High School assistant band director Phillip Vassell made his first appearance in Harris County District Court yesterday, formally hearing the criminal charges he is facing for allegedly having sex with a 16-year-old student.
Vassell, 30, was arrested Thursday on two counts of sexual assault of a child. He faces 5 – 20 years in prison if found guilty.
According to investigators, Vassell had sex with the Katy High student at least four times during June and July of last year. The incidents reportedly occurred at an area motel.
After Vassell was taken into custody, Katy ISD spokesman Steven Stanford released a statement saying the district immediately placed Vassell on administrative leave when it learned of the allegations last Nov. 10. Vassell then resigned.
“Upon becoming aware on Nov. 10 of allegations that Vassell was engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a student, administrators responded by removing him from campus and placing him on administrative leave,” Stanford said in the statement. “Vassell later resigned on his own on Nov. 13. The Katy ISD Police Department has been actively investigating these allegations and presented its evidence to the district attorney’s office earlier today.”
Vassell had been with the school district since August of 2006.
