Teacher sentenced for sexual assault

A former Mount Pleasant ISD teacher was sentenced Friday to 80 years in prison for sexually assaulting a six-year-old boy.

According to Cass County District Attorney Courtney Shelton, 32-year-old Kennie Lewis Cook Jr. was sentenced after a jury in Atlanta found him guilty on three counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child.

Cook was a teacher and assistant band director at Mount Pleasant High School when he was arrested in Feb. 2019. Mount Pleasant ISD officials said at the time Cook had immediately reported to the superintendent’s office to address the matter.

Superintendent Judd Marshall said Cook was placed on administrative leave. He said Cook was in his fifth year with the district, and there had been no complaints about him. Marshall added, “the kids are devastated.”

Marshall said at the time a decision regarding Cook’s employment will be made once the case against him is concluded.

An investigation was prompted when a mother reported to Atlanta, Texas, police that her son said he had been touched by an adult.

Cook will not be eligible for parole for at least 40 years.