Former Paducah principal, coach pleads guilty, sentenced for sexually abusing students

SEYMOUR – Jay Cantrell spoke in a monotone voice and showed no emotion as he pleaded guilty to sexually abusing students at the school where he was once worked.

Cantrell, 45, was sentenced Tuesday afternoon in Baylor County District Court to serve three 15-year prison terms. The trio of sentences will run concurrently. After he is released, the former Paducah High School principal and basketball coach will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Dressed in a black polo shirt and jeans and accompanied by his family, Cantrell responded, “Thank you, sir,” when District Judge Bobby Burnett wished him good luck after he pronounced his sentence.

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Cantrell, who once led the Paducah Dragons to a state championship, originally pleaded not guilty to the accusation that he sexually abused underage victims in Cottle County. He signed a guilty plea May 21.

Read more: http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2015-06-09/former-paducah-principal-coach-pleads-guilty-sentenced-sexually-abusing