(AP) -- A former teacher and girls' basketball coach in Greenville has been put on probation after pleading guilty to assaulting three of his students.

The Greenville News reported that 27-year-old Jeremy Michael Spencer pleaded guilty Monday to three counts of aggravated assault and battery in exchange for prosecutors dropping a criminal sexual conduct charge.

The former J.L. Mann High School teacher agreed to the deal after one of his victims testified that Spencer summoned her to his classroom in April 2009 and had sex with her.

The then-15-year-old testified she tried to kill herself.

Spencer apologized in court as his wife sat behind him. He now works construction and will not be allowed to teach. A mental exam will determine if he's a sexual predator.

(Copyright ©2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)