A former Port Isabel assistant football and power-lifting coach pleaded guilty today to a charge of injury to a child.
Joseph Andrew Sadler appeared before visiting State District Judge Fred Hinojosa and admitted to sending phone messages and photographs of a sexual nature to a former female student under the age of 14.
Sadler was sentenced to four years deferred adjudication and a $5,000 fine. He also agreed to surrender his Texas teaching license.
According to state prosecutors, the improper contact began sometime in 2004 when the student was 13 and continued for four years. It ended after the teen’s parents contacted authorities.
Sadler was arrested in September of 2007.
Although the former teacher also faced a charge of improper relationship between a student and an educator, the charge was dropped because of the plea.
Sadler made a cold plea meaning he didn’t make an agreement with the prosecution, but placed himself at the court’s mercy.
Sadler is also prohibited from having any future contact with the victim or her family.
“He made a terrible mistake he truly regrets this,” said defense attorney Noe Garza.
The victim’s mother took the stand to make an impact statement about the way the case has affected her daughter.
“She no longer has that smile in her face,” the mother said.
