On Thursday, two subpoenas were filed in Amarillo Federal Court demanding that the Amarillo Independent School District (AISD) and the Amarillo Police Department (APD) produce records related to former Perryton Athletic Director Cole Underwood. The subpoenas were filed on behalf of the father of a victim in the case, and they cover a range of employment and law enforcement records connected to Underwood’s past conduct.
Underwood was sentenced in February to more than 30 years in prison, along with a lifetime of supervised release, following charges related to sexual contact with a 15-year-old student, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas. He was arrested in April 2024 on a warrant for “sexual assault of a child.”
Court filings indicate that the charges against Underwood stemmed from incidents occurring between November 2023 and June 2024, during which he allegedly had sexual contact with a minor and received child pornography. A lawsuit filed by the victim’s family revealed that Underwood had been employed by AISD as a coach before his employment with Perryton ISD.
The subpoenas filed this week seek detailed records from both the school district and the police department. AISD has been commanded to provide Underwood’s employment records, along with communications between district personnel made both prior to and after Underwood’s hiring. The subpoenas also request any complaints or correspondence involving Underwood.
According to the filings, APD is required to produce documents related to “referrals, reports, investigations, evidence, incidents, or similar documentations, involving Cole Patrick Underwood, from January 1, 2016, to present.” The documents must also include communications between current and former APD personnel, specifically naming former APD Chief Martin Birkenfeld, regarding Underwood.
The court documents set a deadline of August 29 for both AISD and APD to submit the requested records. These subpoenas follow a separate civil case in which the victim’s family alleges that Underwood’s employment history and prior conduct may have been overlooked or inadequately addressed by school officials.
The case has drawn public attention in Amarillo due to the serious nature of the charges and the potential implications for how school districts and local law enforcement handle allegations involving staff members. During court proceedings, a woman also spoke about alleged sexual abuse by Underwood, underscoring the broader impact of the case on the community. Additionally, filings indicate that APD leadership, including former Chief Birkenfeld, corresponded with the court regarding Underwood’s actions.
As of now, neither AISD nor APD has publicly commented on the subpoenas. Legal experts say the production of these documents could play a significant role in ongoing litigation and may provide further insight into the hiring practices and oversight procedures of the school district, as well as the investigative practices of the police department.
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