DENMARK, S.C. — Former Denmark-Olar High School head football coach Andrae Odell Rice has been charged with unlawful conduct toward a child, stemming from allegations he sought sex from a student at school.

The State Law Enforcement Division announced Wednesday that a warrant has been served against the 32-year-old former coach, who resigned last year.

Reached by cell phone, Rice said, “I can’t talk about that.”

Bamberg School District Two Superintendent Dr. Jake Sello said in an e-mail that Rice’s duties with the school have ended. Sello took over Bamberg Two in July 2009, after Rice left the district.

“It is my understanding that Mr. Rice resigned from his position as athletic director and coach toward the end (of) last school term,” Sello said. “He is no longer employed in the district.”

An affidavit alleges that on Nov. 25, 2008, Rice attempted “to engage the minor student in a sexual act while in the school.” The girl then fled the room, the affidavit says.

SLED spokeswoman Jennifer Timmons said the 17-year-old female was a student of Rice.

The affidavit further alleges Rice, a Columbia resident, then attempted to call her cell phone “to engage her in communications unrelated to school activity.”

The girls’ relatives contacted law enforcement, Timmons said. Denmark Public Safety Chief Leroy Grimes requested SLED conduct the investigation.

In Dec. 2008, Rice announced his resignation as the head ball coach to the Bamberg County School District 2 Board of Trustees.

A day after the 2008 meeting, Rice said he was resigning because of “family issues.”

Rice said, “I gave my resignation yesterday and that was my last official day. I resigned because some family concerns I have made it tough for me to do my job.

“I have to get some things settled with that situation and I’ll take some time off.”

A Denmark-Olar High School graduate, Rice became the D-O Vikings head football coach in August 2007. He previously served as offensive coordinator at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School.

The unlawful conduct toward a child charge carries maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison.

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