Coach Charged in Internet Sex Sting

FLOWERY BRANCH, GA (AP) -- A high school football and track coach was arrested at school Wednesday on charges that he had sexual conversations on the Internet with a deputy posing as a 14-year-old girl.

Shannon D. Mandeville, 34, of Dacula, coaches football and track, and teaches English literature at Flowery Branch High School. He was arrested at the school by Hall County deputies Wednesday morning. He's charged with four counts of having the sexual conversations with an undercover White County deputy.

White County Sheriff Neal Walden said Mandeville's arrest is the result of an investigation that began on July 26. Hall County Schools spokesman Gordon Higgins said Mandeville had been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation. Higgins said Flowery Branch students and faculty were "shocked and devastated," by the coach's arrest.

"He's been there since the school opened," Higgins said. "He was a very popular coach. It's one of those 'I can't believe this has happened' kind of things."

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