Tulsa - A former assistant high school softball coach has been fired amid accusations of sexual conduct.

Fifty-five-year-old Tommy Rogers is charged with lewd molestation. He's accused of touching a 14-year-old student inappropriately. The alleged incident happened in September.

Rogers worked with the girl's softball team at East Central High School. But, when authorities looked into the allegations, he was let go. Officials say Rogers was a lay coach, or a helper.

"Those are coaches that typically are assistant coaches in some cases are head coaches, but not certified employees and not necessarily staff," says Kevin Burr, the Tulsa Public Schools Area Superintendent for High Schools.

Burr says basically, lay coaches show up for the athletic practices and games. They can work or even teach at other schools. Rogers supposedly gave one player a ride home and that started his trouble.

"He was asking her questions in a sexual manner about her sexual activity," says Tulsa Police Sergeant Gary Stansill.

Stansill says the talking allegedly escalated to touching.

"She even reported on one occasion that her buttocks had been fondled during the incident," Stansill said.

He says those two incidents make up a lewd molestation charge.

"His job is to coach. His job isn't to determine a student's sexual activities or lack thereof, whatever."

Rogers was paid about 23-hundred dollars for each agreement to coach. Others may volunteer. All lay coaches go through background checks and training from staff and state athletic officials.

If convicted, Rogers could face 20 years in prison.

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