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Editor's note: Story updated at 5:30 p.m. Friday to include more comments from CISD and investigators.
CORSICANA - Rick Wygant, former director of the Corsicana High School Band, was arrested by Corsicana Police Thursday on a charge of online solicitation of a minor.
Wygant, 44, was arraigned Thursday by Justice of the Peace Connie Hickman, who set bond at $150,000 on the 3rd degree felony charge. Wygant remained jailed Friday morning.
In a press release issued Friday, Chief Randy Bratton outlined the investigation that resulted in Wygant’s arrest.
“Corsicana Police Department Detective Ronni Phillips was assigned this week by Sgt. Mark Nanny to investigate a report of a Corsicana resident, Richard Wygant of sending sexually explicit test messages to a minor from a cell phone,” the release said.
“Det. Phillips determined during the spring and summer of 2011, Wygant allegedly sent numerous sexually explicit text messages to a then 16 year, now 17 year old, female, Corsicana resident. On Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011, Det. Phillips obtained an arrest warrant for Wygant for On-Line Solicitation of a Minor, which is a third degree felony. On the late afternoon of Oct. 13, 2011, Det. Phillips, assisted by Det. Corporal Rex Givens, arrested Wygant at his Corsicana residence without incident. He was then arraigned by Justice of the Peace Connie Hickman, who set bond at $150,000.
“Det. Phillips was also assisted by the staff at the Navarro County Child Advocacy Center, the Navarro County District Attorney’s Office, and the Corsicana Independent School District during this investigation,” the release concluded.
Bratton said there is no evidence of any physical contact between Wygant and the minor, and there is no evidence that any other victims are involved.
CISD officials became aware of the situation regarding Wygant on Monday afternoon when students brought concerns to administrators, who relayed them to CHS Principal Greg Bower, and he alerted CISD Superintendent Dr. Diane Frost, who immediately went to the campus and met with Wygant. Campus and city police were alerted of the information, and Wygant was placed on administrative leave and escorted from the campus, Frost said in a Friday interview. He had no further contact with students after Monday, she said.
On Tuesday, Wygant submitted his resignation to the district. He was arrested by Corsicana Police on Thursday afternoon.
Frost said Friday she met with the CHS Band students to address Wygant’s departure from the district, and the search for a new band director.
“My commitment to the students, and to our staff and to our parents is that we’re going to find the very, very best person,” she said.
Frost told the students the (district) would support them “in any way we can” in upcoming competitions lined up for the group.
“What I wanted them to be most impressed with was that this is the time where they make a decision,” she said. “They can either let a situation like this define the band, define them, or they can move past it and step up and they can be defined by their success. We’ve had so many successes with our band the last year I felt it was really important for them to build on that and think about it that way.”
In the interim, Frost said other band directors in the district will be providing assistance and leadership, and that they will also see some additional help.
A letter sent by Frost to parents on Friday informing them of the arrest sought to assure parents of their childrens’ safety.
“Based on our investigation and what we have learned, there is no reason to believe there is any current threat of harm or danger to your children,” she wrote.
Kerri Anderson Donica, president of the CISD Board of Trustees, issued a statement supporting the actions of Frost and law enforcement in the matter.
“I believe our board is awed by the professional yet sensitive manner in which our CHS staff and our superintendent, Dr. Frost, handled this tragic occurrence,” Anderson Donica’s release said. “Immediate action was taken, which was critical in protecting our students and in eliciting an admission regarding the inappropriate action. Our band students are amazing and will continue to be amazing and to persevere under new leadership.”
Wygant joined the CISD in March 2010. He grew up in New Jersey and taught school there, in Pennsylvania, and the Rio Grande Valley for 23 years prior to taking the Corsicana position.
Information on a lawyer for Wygant was not available late Friday.
On line solicitation of a minor is a Third Degree Felony, and carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
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Bob Belcher may be reached by email at belcher@corsicanadailysun.com. Want to “Soundoff” on this story? Email: soundoff@corsicanadailysun.com
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