Traffic stop leads to suspension of LCHS baseball assistant

Published 11:06 am Friday, February 21, 2020

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STANFORD — A Lincoln County High School assistant baseball coach won’t be coaching for the first three games of the season after he was cited for endangering the welfare of a minor.

It was Saturday, Feb. 8 at about 9:30 p.m. when Christopher T. Noel, 21, of Perryville was pulled over by Stanford Police and cited for four violations.

According to the citation, Noel was stopped after police witnessed a white Chevrolet Malibu “all over the road” traveling north on U.S. 27. The car was “going from white line to center line,” the arresting officer, T. Godbey, Jr., wrote.

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“When I conducted a traffic stop, the above (Noel) was sitting in the middle with his left leg on the driver’s side and right leg on the passenger side,” Godbey said. “Above (Noel) stated he was letting (the) 14-year-old passenger drive (the) vehicle on U.S. 27.”

Noel was cited for careless driving; changing drivers while car is in motion (reckless driving); endangering the welfare of a minor; and operating vehicle with expired operator’s license.

No drugs or alcohol were involved, according to the citation. Noel is expected to appear in court on March 30.

Following the citation, Lincoln County High School conducted an internal investigation based on it’s policies and procedures, according to Communications Coordinator Brad Smith.

Upon the conclusion of the investigation, the school decided it will suspend Assistant Coach Ty Noel for one week of practice, the first three games of the season and will place a letter of reprimand in his personnel file.

Athletic Director Tim Estes commented this week, following the investigation.

“I am disappointed about the lack of judgement shown by Coach Ty Noel, and have spoken to him about the incident and disciplined him accordingly,” Estes said.

Noel was hired as an assistant baseball coach in September of last year. Prior to coming to Lincoln County, Noel served as an assistant coach at both Burgin and Mercer.