South Laurel middle school coach enters guilty plea

A guilty plea has been entered by the former South Laurel girls middle school basketball coach in federal court.

According to federal court records, William Trevor Goodson, 31, has filed consent to enter a guilty plea.

Goodson was initially indicted for sexual abuse 1st.  The indictment states he ‘persuaded, induced, enticed, or coerced an individual under the age of 18, using a means of facility of interstate commerce, to engage in sexual activity.’

Following the filing of his guilty plea, the charge against Goodson was amended to coercion and enticement of a minor.

According to the plea agreement, in or about August 2023 and continuing until February 2024, Goodson used means to engage in the sexual activity of a minor.  Specifically, he was a teacher at Minor Victim 1’s school in the relevant period.  He used text messages and Snapchat to transmit contact with the victim.  Goodson told authorities that his relationship with minor victim 1 was ‘like that of a boyfriend and admitted to buying her gifts and communicating daily via Snapchat.’

The Minor victim 1 told police Goodson, using Snapchat and text messages, told her ‘he wanted to be inside her’ and ‘use his mouth.’  He also sent her pictures of his pants to show her where his penis was located.

Through the pattern of messages sent by Goodson, he convinced minors to engage in sexual contact on multiple occasions within his classroom.  For example, Goodson touched the victim’s buttocks and genitals under her underwear and placed her hands on his clothed erect penis, and penetrated her with his finger, according to the plea agreement.

The statutory punishment is not less than ten years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of at least five years to life.

Goodson waived the right to appeal the guilty plea and will be required to register as a sex offender.

Unless he commits another crime, obstructs justice, or violates a court order, decrease the offense level by two levels for acceptance of responsibility.  Suppose the offense level determined before this 2-level decrease is level 16 or more excellent. In that case, the United States will move at sentencing to decrease the offense level by one additional level based on the Defendant’s timely notice of intent to plead guilty.

No date has been set for his formal sentencing yet.