BAY MINETTE, Ala. — A former Central Baldwin Middle School science teacher and coach was found guilty of “enticement” and sexual abuse of four students last week.

Bryan Christopher Pettibone was arrested Feb. 24, 2009.

According to the Robertsdale police, Pettibone was removed from the school in December 2008 when a student’s parents reported “inappropriate contact” between the then 34-year-old teacher and a female student. The parents’ concerns centered around text messages the teacher was sending the student. An investigation discovered three more students were involved.

Telephone records revealed that Pettibone was texting and calling the students, who ranged in age from 13 to 14 at the time.

Pettibone, according to reports, was convicted of four counts of enticement of a minor, three counts of second-degree sexual abuse, and one count of attempted sexual abuse.

Each enticement charge can result in a sentence of up to 10 years, and the other charges can earn up to a one-year sentence for each count.

According to Terry C. Wilhite, a spokesman for the Baldein County Public schools, “Mr. Pettibone was terminated by the board more than a year ago. But because of Alabama tenure law, he could appeal his termination and remain on the payroll. A new provision in the law which came from the last legislative session, calls for the revocation of a teaching certificate when certain convictions are handed down, including enticement. Immediately following the conviction, our HR department notified the Alabama State Department of Education to request Mr. Pettibone's teaching certificate be revoked. We expect that revocation to be granted quickly and his pay to promptly cease.”