Metro-east coach pleads not guilty to sex assault charges as more details emerge

The charges against a longtime Nashville Community High School teacher and coach allege he sexually assaulted and abused a teenage student, then tried to persuade her to delete emails that could be used as evidence.

Chad E. Malawy, 54, was charged Monday in Washington County Circuit Court with one count each of criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse, both Class 1 felonies. He also faces four Class A misdemeanor charges: two counts of solicitation to obstruct justice and two counts of attempted obstruction of justice.

He entered a plea of not guilty Wednesday, court records show.

Despite prosecutors’ petition for pretrial detention, Judge Daniel Janowski ordered Malawy released until his trial under the condition of GPS monitoring and that he have no contact with the minors listed in the complaint or any Nashville High School student.

Malawy is represented by T.J. Matthes, of the St. Louis-based firm Rosenblum, Schwartz, Fry and Johnson.

“We look forward to defending Chad against these allegations,” Matthes said in a statement to the BND.

Charging documents allege Malawy, who “held a position of trust, authority or supervision,” sexually assaulted and abused a teenage girl who was a student at the school from about mid-January to June 2025. The teen was at least 13 but younger than 18, the charges state.

In May 2026, Malawy allegedly asked the teenager, in person and in a letter, to delete their email exchanges, according to the documents. Prosecutors also allege Malawy asked the teen to provide false information about the alleged sexual contact. Those allegations led to the solicitation to obstruct justice charges.

Malawy also is accused of asking another minor, in a letter, to delete emails from him and to provide false information about alleged sexual contact.

The documents redact the minors’ names and other personal information. The Washington County Circuit Clerk’s Office said two different minors are referenced and clarified which counts relate to each.

The investigation began weeks ago when a Nashville Police Department detective “received significant information about alleged sex crimes by a local high school teacher,” the department said in a news release.

Police contacted the Illinois attorney general’s office to lead the investigation and continued to assist, the release said. Illinois State Police helped with forensic work, the attorney general’s office said in a separate release.

Nashville High School District 99 Superintendent Brad Turner acknowledged in a May 27 letter to parents that an employee was under investigation and had been placed on administrative leave.

“We will cooperate fully with law enforcement as they conduct their investigation and will take any additional actions that may be appropriate as more information becomes available,” the letter said.

Assistant Attorney General Sarah Holst Schryer is prosecuting the case.

Malawy is next scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. on Sept. 1 in Courtroom 2 at the Washington County Courthouse.