A former assistant football coach and science teacher at Goshen High School will be spending at least 15 months in the state penitentiary after he pleaded guilty Monday to sex crimes against minors.

Nicholas Jackson Daniel, who was 30 at the time of his arrest, pleaded guilty to one count of being a school employee having sexual intercourse with a student under the age of 19 and two counts of possession of obscene material involving a minor under the age of 17.

District Attorney Tom Anderson said his team was preparing for trial, but found out late last week that Daniel might be ready to make a plea.

“This is something the victims and their families are very well satisfied with,” Anderson said.

Daniel was sentenced to a 10-year split sentence. Anderson explained that Daniel will serve 15 months in the penitentiary and then be released on probation for three years. A violation of probation terms would land Daniel back in the state facility for his remaining sentence.

“The biggest thing for me is that he will be branded a sex offender for the rest of his life,” Anderson said. “That was very important, as well, to the victims.”

Daniel was arrested June 30 and indicted by a Pike County grand jury on eight counts of possession of obscene material involving a minor under the age of 17 and six counts of being a school employee who engaged in sexual intercourse with a student under the age of 19.

Anderson said the incidents occurred on the grounds of Goshen High School after school had ended for the day or on the weekends. The offenses involved two females, both students.

Daniel was placed on administrative leave with pay on March 1 when allegations first circulated. The Pike County School Board voted in April to not renew Daniel’s contract, which ended May 27.

Daniel is scheduled to turn himself in to authorities on Jan. 10, 2012, to begin his time in prison.