Clarkdale Head Softball Coach Rick Roberson is seen here in this file photo celebrating his 500th win in 2010. The long time coach has been summoned to appear in circuit court to determine if there is probable cause to issue a warrant for his arrest on two counts of lustful touching of a minor while in a position of authority and one count of statutory rape.. 

    According to Lauderdale County Circuit Court records, Clarkdale High School softball coach Ricky E. Roberson has been summoned to appear in circuit court to determine if there is probable cause to issue a warrant for his arrest.

    The State of Mississippi is requesting the court conduct a hearing to determine if probable cause exists against Roberson on two counts of lustful touching of a minor while in a position of authority and one count of statutory rape.

    The hearing is in response to accusations from three former female Clarkdale students.

    The summons to hear the motion for probable cause and request for issuance of an arrest warrant, with attached affidavits from the alleged victims, was filed in circuit court in Meridian Wednesday and signed off on by Lauderdale County prosecuting attorney Justin M. Cobb. Roberson is to appear at 11 a.m. Friday, according to court records.

     The documents state that Roberson was a teacher/coach with the Lauderdale County School District when the offenses allegedly occurred.

    The documents further allege some misconduct took place at Clarkdale High School.

    According to the affidavits attached to the documents, Roberson is accused of inappropriate contact with a 10th grade student in 2010 that continued into 11th grade. The affidavits further allege that he also made inappropriate advances to a student in ninth grade that continued until August 2012. Roberson is also accused of fathering a child with a 15-year old student in 1985, the affidavits state.  

    When asked Wednesday about the allegations, Lauderdale County School District Superintendent Randy Hodges said the issue was a personnel matter in which an employee of the district was terminated and that there is a pending criminal investigation.

    “I just can’t comment any further on this topic,” Hodges said.

    One affidavit alleges that in November 1984 Roberson entered into a relationship with a 15-year-old girl who was babysitting for the Roberson family.

    According to the affidavit Roberson was was employed with Clarkdale High School at the time of the alleged incident. The affidavit further alleges that Roberson had sexual intercourse numerous times with the girl, a student at Clarkdale, over several months, and that the girl became pregnant.

    “A baby girl was born from that pregnancy in (date redacted) of 1985 and the child was given up for adoption,” the affidavit states.

    Another affidavit alleges that in 2010 Roberson kissed a 10th grade female student on the cheek after winning a softball game. Around Christmas of the time the girl was in the 11th grade, Roberson allegedly took the student to lunch at a local Mexican restaurant and tried to kiss her afterwards, according to the affidavit.

     The affidavit further accuses Roberson of giving the student inappropriate “personal” gifts including lotions, perfumes and chocolates.

    A third affidavit alleges Roberson made inappropriate comments to a ninth grade student up until August 2012. The affidavit alleges Roberson bought the girl gifts and grabbed her in inappropriate places.

    The two most recent incidents are alleged to have occurred on the campus of Clarkdale High School, the affidavits state.

    Since 1993, Roberson has been coaching girls slow-pitch and fast-pitch softball teams at Clarkdale High School. In the years since, Roberson has built a powerhouse in girls softball, amassing 11 state titles, seven in slow-pitch and four in fast-pitch.

    Roberson’s teams have also finished runner-up in the state nine times. His teams have a 538-149 record in slow-pitch and 376-142 record in fast-pitch for a combined 914-291 record.