TRUMBULL COUNTY Mom who slapped coach faces sentencing

The mother was found guilty of one count of misdemeanor assault.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
BROOKFIELD -- A mom faces jail time for slapping a middle school football coach after a game.
After a brief trial Thursday, Tracey L. Bender, 33, of Addison Road, Masury, was found guilty of one count of misdemeanor assault.
Her case was heard by Judge Ronald Rice of Trumbull County Eastern District Court.
During the trial, William T. Gibson, 55, of Brookfield, testified that Bender slapped him in the face after a Sept. 18, 2003, football game at Addison field, off Addison Road. He said the slap was hard enough to leave a red mark.
Possible sentence
Bender, who can face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, did not testify during the proceedings.
She will be sentenced after a background check, court officials said.
Bender remains free pending sentencing.
"It's a shame that a coach who is spending lots of time helping the community is assaulted when he is correctly disciplining a child," said Sean O'Brien, an assistant Trumbull County prosecutor.
According to police reports, on Sept. 19, 2003, Bender's son was playing in a football game. Gibson, who is one of the coaches on the team, told police that Bender's son became belligerent and swore at him.
The coach then told the boy to leave the game if he did not want to follow the rules.
"The boy was put back in the game after that," O'Brien said.
However, after the game, Bender approached the coach and began yelling, reports state.
Gibson told Bender that he does not let his children speak to him like that, and he is not going to let anyone else's, the report states.
"At that point, Bender allegedly smacked him on the left side of the face and yelled, "No one points at me," the police report states.
Atty. Jeff Adler, who represents Bender, said his client was upset because she believed the coach was pointing his finger in her face.
"She did apologize for her actions soon after it took place," Adler said.
sinkovich@vindy.com