Back to Blog Home
State Information Access:
Posted January 13
School Board Hires PI to Help On Sex Assault Case
LA PORTE, Indiana — The school board has decided to hire a private investigator to determine whether any school district employees knew of a sexual relationship between a coach and a student, the Herald Argus reported earlier this week.
Indiana State Police began an official investigation into the La Porte Community School Corporation Monday following the arrest last month of a former high school coach.
The investigation stems from the arrest of former varsity assistant volleyball coach Robert Ashcraft on Dec. 17, 2009. Ashcraft allegedly had an ongoing sexual relationship with an underage volleyball player.
Indiana State Police Sgt. Ann Wojas confirmed Monday the case “has been assigned to an investigator, the school corporation has been contacted by that investigator and they are cooperating.”
“The investigation is taking place as a follow up (to Ashcraft’s arrest) to make sure there is no impropriety there,” Wojas said.
The 45-year-old Fish Lake man was charged with Class B felony sexual misconduct with a minor, Class C felony sexual misconduct with a minor and Class D felony child seduction.
According to the allegations in La Porte Circuit Court, Ashcraft was an assistant girls volleyball coach when he and the then-15-year-old player began a sexual relationship in fall 2007.
Ashcraft allegedly resigned at a November 2008 school board meeting.
School board president Mitch Feikes said the decision to hire an outside investigator is in response to “rumors and innuendo” that some faculty members knew about the alleged relationship between Ashcraft and the teen, but did not report it to the proper authorities.
“It’s important to know exactly what went on, to clear the names and reputations (of the innocent),” Feikes said.
- more -
