Child Sex Assault: Arvada Volunteer Band Coach Pleads Not Guilty

ARVADA, CO – A former volunteer band instructor and coach at Arvada High Schools pleaded not-guilty on July 2 to charges he sexually assaulted a 16-year-old student.

Geoffrey Adam Banninger, 23, was a part-time band teacher in the Cherry Creek School District when he was arrested in January, accused of having a sexual affair with an underage girl who attended Eaglecrest High School in Centennial.

Banninger admitted to Arapahoe and Jefferson County investigators he and the student had a sexual relationship and that they had sex a number of times at his mother's home in unincorporated Golden, according to an arrest affidavit. The student told investigators she had a crush on Banninger and sent him music playlists, then they began to see each other outside of school in December, 2017. She told police Banninger would pick her up at her home and drive her to Golden, the affidavit said.

Banninger was fired from Cherry Creek SD, and he was prohibited from working in Jefferson County schools after the accusations came forth.

At the time of his arrest, Arvada HS Principal Gina Rivas told parents in a letter that it was believed that all students with complaints about Banninger had come forward and police did not know of any others.

The earliest record of Banninger volunteering at Arvada High School was in June of 2015, Diana Wilson, chief communications officer of Jeffco Schools told Patch when Banninger was arrested.

"It's disappointing after we take such care and fingerprint volunteers and everything else," Wilson said. "It's disheartening, but we hope that doesn't discourage people from volunteering in our schools."

Banninger's next scheduled court date is July 30.

Image via Jefferson County Sheriff's Office

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