FAYETTEVILLE — A former volunteer coach at Har-Ber High School, who is accused of having sex with a 17-year-old student, has a new court date.
Brett Wayne Foster, 22, was set to appear Friday morning in Washington County Circuit Court to face two counts of first-degree sexual assault but the case was continued until Oct. 18.
Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Matt Durrett said the case was delayed because evidence is still being processed by the Arkansas State Crime Lab.
Foster, of Fayetteville, was arrested April 27 in connection with first-degree sexual assault on a 17-year-old student.
The student and her parents contacted Springdale police March 30. The student, now 18, told investigators she had sex with Foster, whom she identified as her high school track coach. She said Foster worked closely with her as part of his regular coaching duties.
Foster's paperwork was never processed to approve him as a volunteer coach, according to school officials. But, prosecutors said his activities with the team qualify him as an authority figure, part of the definition for a first-degree sexual assault charge.
Foster attended Har-Ber track team practices and meets and rode on the bus with the team.
During a typical year, 30 to 40 volunteer coaches assist Springdale athletic teams, according to school officials.
According to an arrest warrant, Foster exchanged flirtatious text messages with the student. The messages were allegedly exchanged through a third party so no one would know what Foster was doing.
Police said Foster gave the student and a friend a ride home from a track meet on March 18. After dropping the friend off, Foster reportedly drove the 17-year-old to Rio Bravo in Springdale, where they parked and had sex. The student said Foster picked her up from her parents house the next day and took her to Rio Bravo, where she and Foster had sex a second time.