Brandon Neil Sams: Texas High School band director charged for grooming student with 'gay for pay' gifts
BOWIE COUNTY, TEXAS: A former high school band director has been charged with sexual harassment after allegations surfaced that he had groomed a minor student and drew him into a relationship with expensive gifts. It is reported that Brandon Neil Sams, 46, is looking at a long prison sentence after being charged with a count of coercion and enticement of a minor and obstruction of justice on October 7.
Sams has also been charged with one count of evading arrest in a vehicle and another count of tampering with evidence and improper relationships between educator and student. The contents of the complaint were previously sealed, but have now been made available to the public.
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A press release by the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas stated, “According to the complaint and information presented in court, from March 2022 through September 2022, Sams, while serving as a band instructor at Texas High School, allegedly attempted to entice or persuade a minor to engage in sexual activity,”
“On Sep. 26, 2022, Sams allegedly attempted to obstruct or conceal information from law enforcement,” the release added.
The parents of the victim had reported their suspicions about the teacher on September 26. Upon receipt of the complaint, the school management informed the police. The parents helped investigators by providing the debit and credit cards and a computer that Sams had given their son. He had also sent the boy some disturbing messages, one of which even mentioned being ‘gay for pay’ - insinuating that the laptop was in exchange for a sexually graphic picture of the student himself.
Sams appeared nervous when the police asked for his phone. He then fled the scene after an officer asked him to stay on the premises. However, he was later found at his house and taken into custody.
The officers have not been able to locate the phone; Sams claims he threw it away. The police searched his house to find the device, but to no avail. He may be sentenced to a minimum of ten years in prison for the offenses.