Former charter school basketball coach charged with sexual misconduct

• Reprints

Updated: March 12, 2012 8:05AM

The former girls basketball coach at a Gary charter school has been charged with two counts of sexual misconduct with a minor, two counts of child seduction, criminal confinement and misdemeanor battery.

Brennen Deon Heffner, 25, of the 1900 block of Jefferson Street, Gary, was suspended indefinitely from the 21st Century Charter School by Principal Angelo West, the probable cause affidavit states..

Five teen girls came forward with allegations that Heffner behaved inappropriately toward them between about July 2009 and mid-November at the school, 556 Washington St., Gary. The allegations include Heffner touching their buttocks and throwing basketballs at their buttocks and asking one student for a kiss and asking another girl to have sex with him last year. That girl, who was 17, said Heffner showed her a picture of his “private part” on his phone.

Another girl said Heffner wanted him to hug her, and another girl said Heffner took her cell phone from her, placed it on her stomach and told her to come and get it, then moved it to his crotch. The girl got up to leave the area and Heffner grabbed her right arm, pulled her over his legs and then eventually the girl broke free and left the classroom.

The charges are punishable by a maximum eight-year sentence.