Former coach charged with sexually assaulting teen in 2009

CHICAGO (AP) - A Minnesota man has been charged with sexually assaulting a girl more than a decade ago when he was her track coach at a suburban Chicago private school.

The Winnetka Talk reported that 35-year-old Seyamack Afzali was charged in Cook County this week with criminal sexual assault stemming from allegations of a 2009 incident at the Chicago home of a 16-year-old girl who was attending North Shore Country Day School in Winnetka at the time.

Prosecutors said that Facebook records revealed that Afzali sent the girl a message that included explicit language, and that the two carried on a 'œflirtatious conversation'ť on Facebook in which the two professed their love for each other.

Prosecutors also said that Facebook records indicate that the relationship continued when the girl attended high school in another state. They said a witness recalled seeing Afzali and the girl frequently kissing.

Chicago police launched their investigation in June of last year, after the former student, while undergoing therapy, reported the allegations to the department.

A Cook County judge set bond at $30,000 for Afzali, who remained in custody Saturday, according to the Cook County Jail website. It was not immediately clear if Afzali has retained an attorney.