A Perrytown ISD coach has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for sexually abusing a 15-year-old student. Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, Chad Meacham, announced the sentencing of Cole Underwood, 29. Underwood was charged in June 2024 and later indicted that same month. He pleaded guilty to enticement of a minor in September 2024.
U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk handed down the sentence, which includes a lifetime of supervised release following imprisonment. Underwood will also be required to register as a sex offender.
The case came to light when Perryton ISD’s superintendent reported a possible inappropriate relationship between Underwood and a female student in May 2024. Surveillance footage allegedly showed Underwood meeting with the girl alone after hours, contrary to specific instructions not to do so.
Agents reviewed the video and saw Underwood propping open an exterior door and turning off lights before the girl entered the building and went into his office.
In interviews with law enforcement, the student revealed that she had sexual encounters with Underwood more than twelve times between February and May in his office. She described how their relationship began on Snapchat, where it evolved from friendship into flirtatious messaging starting in December.
A search of her phone uncovered multiple late-night conversations between her and Underwood, some lasting over six hours. During these exchanges, he occasionally referred to her as “wifey” and professed love for her.
At the sentencing hearing, the student explained how she was groomed by Underwood: “I had no idea that he was slowly in the process of grooming me,” she stated in her victim impact statement. She expressed hope that others might learn from her experience: “Just because you have one bad chapter does not mean your story is over.”
The investigation was conducted by several agencies including the FBI's Dallas Field Office – Amarillo Resident Agency, Ochiltree County Sheriff’s Office, and Perrytown Police Department with cooperation from Perryton Independent School District. Assistant U.S. Attorney Callie Woolam is prosecuting this case.