A former Brewton band director has been sentenced to three years in the Escambia County Jail after reaching a plea deal in a case involving sexual contact with students, according to a report from the Brewton Standard.
Jeffrey Gainous, who went by “Mr. G” at the school, pleaded guilty to one count of a teacher having a sexual act with a student, a class B felony, along with two counts of sexual contact with a student. Investigators said the conduct, which reportedly included restraint-style sexual activity with female students, occurred both at the school and at Gainous’ home.
Gainous was arrested in August after allegations surfaced against him. As part of the plea agreement, he received a 20-year sentence that was suspended, with the exception of three years he will serve in the county jail. He will also be required to register as a convicted sex offender and complete five years of probation once released.
The case drew significant attention in Brewton, a small Escambia County community where Gainous had worked closely with students through the school’s band program. School administrators removed him from his position once the allegations came to light, and the criminal case moved through the court system over the following months before concluding with the plea deal.
Sex offense cases involving teachers and students have prompted increased scrutiny of school hiring practices and reporting procedures in districts across Alabama in recent years, with education officials emphasizing the importance of background checks and clear channels for students and staff to report concerns.
The sentence closes out a case that shook the close-knit Brewton community, where band programs and school arts activities are often a central part of student life. Local officials have said the resolution of the case allows the school and broader community to begin moving past a difficult chapter, while the mandatory sex offender registration and years of supervised probation will continue to apply long after Gainous completes his jail term.