22-year-old man accused of posing as high school student released from jail

Man accused of posing as teen released in Texas

ODESSA, Texas — Authorities say a 22-year-old man accused of posing as a high school basketball player in Texas has been released from jail.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Debbie Bruce said Guerdwich (GURD-which) Montimere posted $500 bond Wednesday on a charge of failure to identify himself to a police officer.

School officials in Odessa said Montimere admitted posing as Jerry Joseph, a 16-year-old star on the basketball team at Permian High School. That’s the same school that inspired the movie “Friday Night Lights.”

The district said Joseph claimed to be an illegal immigrant from Haiti. Authorities later determined he was actually a naturalized U.S. citizen from Haiti.