Utah High School Wrestling Coach Formally Charged With Sexually Abusing Student Athletes

An assistant wrestling coach at Payson High School in Utah has been formally charged following his arrest last week on allegations that he sexually abused student athletes, ABC4 reported. According to the station, the 28-year-old coach faces 18 counts of forcible sexual abuse, all second-degree felonies, plus one count of criminal sexual exploitation of a minor.

ABC4 previously reported that the coach was arrested during a traffic stop on September 18 after a months-long investigation. Payson police said in a news release cited by the station and by the Daily Herald that the FBI forwarded a cyber tip in late July alleging the coach had groped student athletes and solicited nude photographs from minors, with the conduct alleged to span roughly six years.

KSL reported that, according to investigators, the coach acknowledged soliciting nude images but denied touching students inappropriately during practice. The charges are allegations that have not been proven in court, and the reporting available at publication did not include a plea.