Court appearance today for former Walhalla coach

96.3/WGOG NEWS has learned that a former Walhalla teacher and wrestling coach is scheduled for a court appearance this afternoon. Court officers tell us that Richard “Trey” Gardner III of Kershaw is scheduled for a 2 o’clock appearance in the General Sessions Court. With help from the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, Oconee deputies arrested Gardner in September. He was taken into custody at his place of employment with the Chesterfield County School District. Gardner was jailed on a $730 thousand bond, charged with 11 counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor and 13 counts of lewd act on a minor. Gardner previously worked for the Oconee School District as a teacher at Walhalla Middle School and wrestling coach at Walhalla High School. According to the Oconee Sheriff’s Department, the investigation arose from a report alleging sexual abuse by Gardner on former Walhalla students between 1998 and 2003. At the time, the victims were between 12 and 14 years old. The crimes are alleged to have occurred both at the schools and at Gardner’s home.