Kell High School Volleyball Coach Arrested, Charged with Sexual Contact with Student

A Kell High School coach and teacher is behind bars at the Cobb County jail after being arrested and charged with sexual assault against a student, jail records show.

According to WSB-TV, Justin Blankenbecler allegedly kissed and fondled a 16-year-old student. Jail records show that Blankenbecler was arrested at 4 p.m. on Sept. 11 and was fully booked into the jail at 2:32 a.m. Friday. Blankenbecler faces one charge of sexual battery and two charges of sexual assault by a teacher against a student. He remains in jail on a $10,000 bond as of Friday evening.

According to Kell High School Volleyball’s website, Blankenbeckler, known as “Coach B,” began working at Kell High School this year, following a three-year stint at a school in Fairfax County, Virginia. He teaches physics and environmental science at Kell, and also serves as the head coach of the junior varsity volleyball squad.

He served as an athletic trainer in Virginia and was quoted in a 2013 USA Today article about athletic trainers in high schools.

Blankenbecler obtained a bachelor’s degree in athletic training and a master’s degree in special education from George Mason University. While at George Mason, he spent a year playing on the school’s volleyball team.

Photo Credit: Kell High School Volleyball