The charge against Eric A. Dodson was dismissed.

Assistant Southern District Attorney Catherine Smith signed the dismissal May 25, 2017, according to court documents filed in Thomas County Superior Court.

“Upon further investigation, the criminal warrant in the above-styled case is hereby dismissed because of lack of prosecution,” according to the court document.

THOMASVILLE— A special education teacher and coach with the Thomas County School System was charged with sexual assault Tuesday.

Eric Dodson, 23, of Thomasville, turned himself in at the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office Monday. He was charged with sexual assault by teacher, a felony. Authorities said they believe the case involved consensual sex with a 17-year-old Thomas County Central High student.

Sheriff Carlton Powell notified the Criminal Investigation Division Friday about accusations involving Dodson and a female student. Chief Investigator Lt. Tim Watkins said investigators determined the identity of the student Monday and questioned her.

Since Dodson worked in the public sector, investigators said they were required to obtain a warrant from a Superior Court judge. Dodson turned himself in and, according to Watkins, fully confessed. He was released on a $10,100 bond and promptly resigned his position with the school system.

According to Superintendent Dr. Dusty Kornegay, Dodson was employed as a fifth-grade special education inclusion teacher. He worked along with regular education teachers assisting students with learning disabilities.

Dodson, a well-known Central athlete, was a community football coach for middle school aged players. He was subsequently employed as a substitute teacher in August 2015 and worked at Thomas County Middle School and Central.

A former Central quarterback and all-Gulf South Conference player at Shorter University, Dodson was employed as a full-time teacher in December 2015 after another teacher retired.

“Those of us who have been in the community and the school system for many years watched Eric grow up from childhood and excel as both a high school and collegiate student and athlete,” Kornegay said. “We were thrilled that he returned home to build a very promising career in our school system. He has the talent, the charisma and the ability to accomplish great things.

“We are deeply hurt and disappointed that he appears to have violated the first duty of an educator, which is to guard and protect the students in our care. Accordingly, his career with the school system has ended. We hold our faculty to high standards and we will not tolerate this type of conduct no matter who the individual happens to be.”

Dodson was also a conditioning coach for all the school system’s athletic teams and was tapped to be Central’s head wrestling coach last month. He was also to serve as the middle school’s offensive coordinator.

Kornegay said a report about the incident will be submitted to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.

“All school employees are bound by the Georgia Educator Code of Ethics which prohibits employees from having inappropriate relationships with students,” said Kornegay.

A 2011 Central graduate, Dodson is a former area champion wrestler and led the Yellow Jackets to their last region football championship in 2009.

He graduated from Shorter in 2015 with a degree in film and broadcasting. He was one of the first Shorter football players to be named all-conference. He owns the Eagles’ career marks for passing yards, most completions, most attempts and most touchdowns. He also ranks third on Shorter’s all-time rushing list and is second in all time touchdowns.