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GREENSBORO — Police arrested a former Western Guilford High basketball coach Tuesday on a sex charge.

Karl Lemart Wells II, 27, of 4003 Old Oak Ridge Road is charged with indecent liberties with a student.

Wells is a former assistant teacher for exceptional education and former assistant girls’ basketball coach at Western Guilford High School. He turned himself in to authorities and was released on a written promise to appear, according to police.

A Guilford County Schools spokesman said Wells was hired in September 2003.

The charge stems from an incident on Oct. 27, according to court documents.

Police Capt. Janice Rogers said the investigation began after a female student’s mother found a text message on the girl’s phone and notified school officials.

Rogers said Wells resigned from his position shortly after the mother notified the school. It took two months to arrest Wells because investigators had difficulty finding the teen’s mother, Rogers said.

Arrest warrants say that Wells “did attempt indecent liberties” with the student but do not elaborate.

Rogers said the student is no longer enrolled at Western Guilford High. Her age was not immediately available. The police investigation did not include any other students, Rogers said.

A message left on Wells’ cell phone seeking comment was not returned Tuesday night.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the criminal investigation division at 373-2255 or Crime Stoppers at 373-1000.

Staff writer Ryan Seals contributed to this report.

Contact J. Brian Ewing at 373-7351 or brian.ewing@news-record.com