Former coach/newspaper editor faces sex charges

Staff report

JEFFERSON

A former high school coach and newspaper editor is to be arraigned on sex charges today in Eastern County Court in Ashtabula County.

Donald M. McCormack, 51, is charged with two counts of sexual imposition, according to a statement released Monday afternoon by the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office. The charges are related to alleged contact with student-athletes at Jefferson Area High School, where McCormack coached girls basketball and softball.

McCormack was arrested without incident earlier Monday at his Jefferson home.

McCormack also was employed as sports editor at The Star Beacon, a daily newspaper in Ashtabula. In a story published Monday afternoon on the newspaper’s website, publisher Jim Frustere said McCormack’s employment was terminated, effective immediately.

McCormack was a 28-year employee at the newspaper and had been its sports editor since 1998.

He had been Jefferson’s varsity softball head coach and junior varsity girls basketball head coach until earlier this summer, when he reportedly resigned both positions. Jefferson is a member of the All-American Conference.

Star Beacon editor Neil Frieder said in Monday’s story that the newspaper became aware of allegations after McCormack resigned from the coaching jobs. Frieder said the newspaper began an internal investigation and contacted law enforcement officials.

A statement issued by Ashtabula County Sheriff William R. Johnson said detectives began an investigation last week into alleged inappropriate conduct after receiving complaints from parents of current and former Jefferson student-athletes.

The charges originally were termed gross sexual imposition and later amended to sexual imposition, according to the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office.

McCormack is being held in the Ashtabula County Jail Facility. His arraignment is scheduled for 1 p.m. today at Eastern County Court in Jefferson.

Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Lt. Terry Moisio declined to further comment on the matter because the investigation is ongoing.

Messages seeking comment were left with Jefferson Area Local Schools superintendent John Montanaro and Jefferson athletic director Steve Locy on Monday night.