CBS 19 - The Eye of East Texas News - Winnsboro HS band director arrested for sexual assault, indecency

Winnsboro HS band director arrested for sexual assault, indecency

By Hayley Wielgus

WINNSBORO (KYTX) - The community of Winnsboro is reacting to the arrest of a high school band director accused of sexually assaulting two students. Forty four-year-old Paul Bramlett was indicted Tuesday on eight counts of sexual assault of a child and eight counts of sexual indecency with a child.  The incidents involved two boys who were once Bramlett's students.

But the Franklin County Sheriff's Office said the incidents did not happen at school or during school-related activities.

Word travels fast in this small East Texas town.

"All of a sudden it got out," Winnsboro High School Senior Taylor Amerson said. "Everybody was talking about it."

Amerson said students were shocked to find out Band Director Paul Bramlett is accused sexually assaulting two students.

"It's scary to think they are supposed to be our protectors while we're at school," Amerson said. "They're supposed to be our role models and one of our's completely turned."

"I was shocked, saddened," Winnsboro ISD Superintendent Dr. Mark Bosold said. "I felt for the family."

Bosold said Bramlett has been on paid administrative leave since last fall, when the investigation started.  Bramlett was hired by the district about three years ago and Bosold said he background checked out fine.

"We make good use of references before we hire," Bosold said. "We're confident but no one can be 100 percent sure all the time."

"We look up to them to mentor and teach our children," said Nancy Lynn, whose 19-year-old son recently graduated from Winnsboro High School.  "That's one thing we don't want them to experience, it ruins their lives."

Lynn wants Bramlett fired, immediately.

"There's a punishment not high enough for what he did," Lynn said. "There's no excuse for it."

But Bosold said not everyone agrees.

"We have received a lot of information from band parents, through the grapevine, of parents that support him and stand by him," Bosold said.

Bosold said Bramlett has helped the high school band excel over the past three years.  He has been temporarily replaced by the middle school band director.  Bramlett is being held in the Franklin County Jail on $400,000 bond.