A troubling case has emerged in Winnsboro, Texas, involving two high school coaches and serious charges tied to the sexual abuse of a student.
Nicholas Gabriele, who served as an assistant football coach and economics teacher at Winnsboro High School during the 2024-2025 school year, was arrested last week and charged with an improper relationship between an educator and a student. Investigators from the Wood County Sheriff’s Office said they received information and evidence indicating Gabriele had been sexually involved with a student. Reports came from both official sources and concerned community members.
After securing an arrest warrant, law enforcement located Gabriele in Ennis, Texas. He was taken into custody without incident and, according to authorities, admitted to the relationship. Gabriele is currently facing a second-degree felony charge and is being held at the Ellis County Jail on a $53,072 bond.
Winnsboro ISD responded with a public statement, confirming that Gabriele had previously resigned from the district before these allegations came to light. The district emphasized that he is no longer affiliated with Winnsboro ISD and that they are cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation. The statement reaffirmed that the safety and well-being of students remain their top priority.
However, the investigation did not stop with Gabriele’s arrest.
On June 23, the Wood County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of another Winnsboro High School coach, Jared Alan Lancaster. He was charged with knowingly failing to report suspected child abuse — a violation of Texas law that requires educators and school staff to report any suspicion of inappropriate conduct involving students.
Investigators say Lancaster was aware of the relationship and chose not to report it. Arrest documents indicate that Lancaster sent texts and made calls to Gabriele in an apparent attempt to help conceal the relationship. He was arrested at his home in Winnsboro by deputies and a Texas Ranger, and was booked into the Wood County Jail with bond set at $10,000.
The sheriff’s office made clear in its statement that failing to report such conduct is a criminal offense. “It is a crime to be aware of a relationship between a staff member of the school and a student and not report that relationship to the proper agency,” the statement read.
The case remains under active investigation. Authorities believe more individuals may have been aware of the relationship and did not come forward. Additional arrests are expected.
Anyone with information related to the case is encouraged to contact the Wood County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division or the Texas Rangers.
This troubling situation has sent shockwaves through the Winnsboro community, serving as a somber reminder of the responsibility that educators and school personnel have in protecting students and upholding the law.
