Former Keller ISD coach who stalked teenage student is sentenced to more than 10 years in prison

A former Keller ISD coach and teacher has been sentenced to more than a decade behind bars for stalking a teenage student and possessing pornographic images of children.

Ricky Lynn Badley, 45, had pleaded guilty in October to one count of stalking and one count of possession of child pornography. A federal judge sentenced him Friday to five years on the former charge and 71 months on the latter, to be served consecutively; he had faced up to 25 years total.

According to court documents, Badley — who worked at Timber Creek High School in Fort Worth — started sending the 16-year-old victim text messages in 2019. He also referred to her as a “little girl” and his “new favorite.”

Beginning that December, he sent anonymous letters to the girl, her parents and her classmates “detailing fabricated sexual encounters” between the girl and her boyfriend, authorities said.

Badley also admitted sending the teen’s parents an anonymous letter demanding that she post two suggestive videos on TikTok and threatening to release more false, damaging information if she didn’t. Two weeks later he attempted to send out letters containing a vulgar haiku based on the girl’s name; postal inspectors intercepted those messages before they could be delivered.

Keller ISD asked Badley to resign in January 2020 after district officials became aware of his actions. Later that month, the girl’s mother reported seeing him drive past the family’s home, and in June the teen saw him parking at her private athletic practice.

While authorities were investigating Badley, they found child pornography on his electronic devices,