Milford H.S. Band Director Charged With Sexual Assault Of A Child
FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) – Italy Police have charged the 63-year-old Milford High School band director with sexually assaulting a 15-year-old student from 2004 to 2006, according to an arrest affidavit released Sunday.
The police record says William Trussell, 63, began making inappropriate sexual comments and touching the 15-year-old student in September of 2004 while working as a band director at Italy High School. The first sexual acts occurred on Sept. 14, 2004 and continued on "several other occasions over the next few years."
The victim kept a detailed series of journals of the incidents, the affidavit states. The victim met with Italy Police on March 13 and told them of the sexual assaults.
She also turned over the journals.
The affidavit says police met with a friend of the victim whom she confided in on March 28. The friend corroborated what was in the journals.
On March 29, the affidavit says the victim called Trussell while police recorded the conversation. It says the 63 year old never outright denied any of the sexual acts and apologized "several times."
"Trussell said they both made mistakes and he was remorseful and that he had prayed about it," the affidavit says.
On April 2, police went to Milford High School and "made visual contact" with Trussell. A few minutes later, the band director reportedly "left the premises."
Police later found Trussell at his home in Frost, the affidavit says. Investigators began asking specifics about the relationship with the student.
Trussell denied the sexual allegations, but told police the girl was "at the band hall 'a lot.'"
"Trussell also gave her 'private lessons,'" the affidavit says. "The private lessons were given after school and sometimes on the weekends when Trussell and (the victim) were alone together."
Trussell then admitted he "showed her more attention than he should have in retrospect" and said he wished the two had not become so close.
Trussell then asked to speak with his attorney before answering any further questions.
He has been charged with sexual assault of a child, a second-degree felony. He posted the $2,500 bond "immediately" and is out of jail.
This was a joint investigation between the Italy Police Department, Ellis County District Attorney's Office and the Texas Rangers.
