DETROIT – A Detroit teacher and track coach accused of sexually assaulting a cognitively delayed teen has been bound over to stand trial.
Nathan Tedford, 54, who was charged with two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving coercion, appeared in court for his preliminary examination on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, before Judge Shawn K. Jacque in the 36th District Court.
The East English Village Preparatory Academy teacher allegedly lured an 18-year-old student to his home on May 29, 2025.
Background:Detroit teacher, coach accused of grooming student with cognitive delays
The victim testified in court on Wednesday and said that he had previously been a student at East English Village, but had left to complete online schooling.
While he was a student at the school, Tedford was his track coach. After he left the school, he said he continued to communicate with Tedford over text messaging.
The teen said he had previously had a good relationship with Tedford and thought he was one of the best coaches at that school.
During his testimony, the victim also said that Tedford had often given him rides to school or to practice.
The teen testified that he texted Tedford in May 2025 because he needed to get a necklace that he had left in Tedford’s car, and asked him if they could also get Chipotle. The teen said he asked for Chipotle because they had previously agreed that if he did well in a specific race while he was still on the team, Tedford would get him Chipotle.
Tedford agreed and picked the teen up from his house.
But instead of going to Chipotle, Tedford brought him to his house when the victim asked him to “crack his back.”
The victim explained that he often has lower back pain and sore muscles from being active and doing sports.
He testified that he’d been to Tedford’s house one other time, but someone else had been there that time.
This was his first time at Tedford’s house alone.
Once inside, the victim said Tedford cracked his back and then offered to give him a massage on a massage table.
At some point during the massage, the teen said he felt Tedford’s hand brush past his genital area, but thought it was a mistake.
“I was pretty confused,” the victim said. “I honestly didn’t know what to say. I was just confused.”
Then Tedford grabbed body oil and continued to massage the victim, and then sexually assaulted him.
In his testimony, the victim said that he had told Tedford to stop three times, but Tedford didn’t stop.
He said he was nervous about what the outcome might be if he were to say more and was worried about how he would get home.
After the assault, the victim said Tedford took him to Chipotle and then took him home.
The victim said that he later told his girlfriend about what happened, and she told the teen that he should tell her mom.
Once the victim told his girlfriend’s mother what happened, she took him to the police station to file a report.
During the hearing, the prosecutor asked the teen why his girlfriend’s mother had taken him to the Southfield Police Department, and he said he initially thought Tedford lived in Southfield because he had seen a sign for Southfield Freeway when they were driving to his home, which is actually in Detroit.
The prosecution argued that Tedford brought the victim to his house, where he was concealed and in a vulnerable position, and forcefully touched him. The prosecution also said the victim was shocked and expressed that he was worried about how he would get home.
The defense claimed that the victim’s story was “embellished” and that the teen could have moved off the table and away from Tedford, but didn’t. Tedford’s attorney also said that there was “no force of coercion” and that the victim “consented to something he now feels is very creepy.”
After hearing the victim’s testimony and the arguments from the prosecution and the defense, the judge found that there was probable cause that a crime was committed and bound Tedford over to stand trial on two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving coercion.
A pretrial hearing is scheduled for Sept. 10.
Tedford was charged on Monday, June 16, with two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. His bond was set at $30,000, and he was ordered to have no contact with anyone under 18.
On Wednesday, June 18, Tedford’s bond was raised to $50,000, and he was ordered to have no contact with anyone under 21.
Tedford was originally placed on paid leave, but after he was charged, he was placed on unpaid administrative leave, pending the outcome of the investigation.