Gates-Chili coach charged with having sex with a student | Crime

He was a stand-out athlete as a student, and a well-respected Gates-Chili basketball coach. Tonight, he stands accused of raping a teenage girl.

Late this afternoon, police arrested Monte Nowden and charged him with felony rape and criminal sex act. Police say the coach had a sexual encounter with a 16-year-old Gates-Chili high school student.

It all stems from what Gates Police Chief David DiCaro describes as an "inappropriate" relationship with a 16-year-old student.

The chief says Nowden was arrested this afternoon, after a friend of the student told a teacher at the high school. That teacher went to the administration, who immediately called police.

Nowden was an in-school suspension supervisor at the high school and varsity head coach of the boys' basketball team. He was in his second year of coaching.

Chief DiCaro says Nowden and the student had a sexual encounter off school property last Monday. Nowden is charged with third-degree rape and third-degree criminal sex act.

"We're talking about a minor- and age is the primary reason that this is criminal. Inappropriate being that he works at the school and she is a student there as well- but moreover at the end of the day, that people have to realize that this is a bad decision, a criminal decision," says DiCaro.

Nowden is a Gates-Chili grad and a 2010 Section V football hall of famer. The school district issued a statement tonight saying that the accusations came to light this morning. The district also says Nowden was terminated immediately.

Nowden was arraigned in Gates Town Court, where bail was set at $5,000.

He is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on Monday.

The chief believes this was a single, isolated incident and says he does not expect any other charges to be filed against Nowden.

In fact, the chief says he thinks this is "out of character" for Nowden.

The district has appointed Chris Amesbury as the new coach. He was previously the JV boys basketball coach.

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