NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – A Williamson County high school football coach, who is also a former Tennessee Volunteer football player, is among three people arrested in connection to a prostitution sting in Nashville, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department.
MNPD said Centennial High School football coach Herman “Jay” Graham III was arrested along with two other men on multiple charges related to a prostitution sting in Nashville Wednesday.
Williamson County high school football coach and former Vol among those arrested in Nashville prostitution sting(MNPD)
Detectives posted ads on adult websites as part of a collaborative operation between MNPD’s Special Victims Division and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Graham allegedly responded to one of those ads and began messaging with an undercover officer, who was posing as a 16-year-old girl.
MNPD said Graham and the undercover officer agreed on a price of $120 for sex. Graham then allegedly went to a Nashville hotel, where he gave the female officer the money, and was immediately arrested.
Graham faces two felony charges including patronizing prostitution with a minor and solicitation of a minor for aggravated statutory rape. His bond has been set as $45,000.
Graham is a former running back for the Tennessee Vols. He also spent some time in the NFL with Baltimore, Seattle and Green Bay.
After Graham’s arrest, Centennial High School shared a notification with parents stating that Graham was fired from his coaching position and suspended without pay from his teaching position at the school.
The full statement reads:
Greetings,
I am writing to you tonight with disturbing news. This evening, we were notified by law enforcement that our head football coach Jay Graham was arrested earlier today during a sting operation in Nashville on two felony charges of patronizing prostitution and solicitation of a minor to commit statutory rape.
Metro Police will be sending out a news release later this evening, and I expect to see this news on our local TV stations and other media outlets as well as on social media.
Mr. Graham has been fired from the coaching staff at Centennial and suspended without pay from his teaching position. He will not be allowed on our campus.
Tomorrow, we will have counselors available to meet with students as needed. Additionally, during first period, I, along with other staff members, will meet with members of the football team to discuss this situation and offer support.
Law enforcement has not indicated that there should be any concern for Centennial families; however, should you have any information to share, please contact law enforcement.
Thank you.
Dr. Haymon
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Two other men were arrested in Wednesday’s sting. They include 46-year-old Aaron Barnack of Erin and 20-year-old Anthony Proctor of Hermitage.
Barnack was charged with two counts of patronizing prostitution with a minor and two counts of solicitation of a minor for aggravated statutory. He allegedly replied to the online ad and agreed to pay $1,000 to spend the night with a 16-year-old girl and her 17-year-old cousin.
MNPD said Barnack was arrested after arriving at the motel room. His bond is also set at $45,000.
Proctor also allegedly replied to the ad and agreed to pay $50 for a 15-minute sexual encounter with an undercover officer posing as a 16-year-old.
He was arrested after giving money to the officer. His bond is set at $41,000.
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