By RACHEL C. DOVE

Staff Writer

MATEWAN - “I cannot, or will not, move forward to prosecute any case without a formal police report that contains evidence a crime took place,” said C. Michael Sparks, Mingo County Prosecuting Attorney.

“I review the investigation findings, and then and only then do I decide a course of action.”

Sparks was speaking about the complaints of alleged sexual assaults reported by female students against the Matewan Middle School math teacher and boys’ basketball and football coach, James Hiram Keatley.

The veteran teacher is now suspended without pay, pending the outcome of the charges, and is also forbidden to have any contact with students.

In December of 2011, Sparks released information stating an investigation had begun in regards to Keatley, after complaints from multiple students alleged that the teacher has committed sexual assault acts toward them.

Sparks said to the Daily News on Monday that the West Virginia State Trooper assigned to the case has not yet concluded his investigation.

Trooper L.D. Hensley, is a member of the Crimes Against Children Unit serving the southern part of the state, and is based out of the Logan Detachment.

“These investigations sometimes take longer than most people realize,” said the prosecutor. “This is a case that involves serious allegations.”

Sparks said he is not aware of exactly how far Hensley is into the investigation, but said he had hoped to have the information before now.

“I’m still waiting for a concluded investigation and police reports,” said Sparks. “I expected it by now, actually – I expected it before the end of the year. I just need the officer to conclude his investigation and submit a report to me.”

The prosecutor’s office has received several phone calls from the families of the alleged victims and other concerned citizens questioning why the case hadn’t been added to the list of January indictments.

“As soon as I have the police report, I will meet with the victims and decide the appropriate route to take,” said Sparks.

Reportedly, there are at least three students who provided testimony regarding the alleged sexual misconduct. One family told the Daily News that supposedly there were other teachers present that witnessed the inappropriate touching, and questioned why they had not been subpoenaed to testify about what they had seen.

Calls to the WVSP Logan detachment asking that Trooper Hensley contact the Daily News were not returned.