Former Jefferson coach, sports editor arraigned on sex charges

JEFFERSON — Don McCormack, 51-year-old former Jefferson High School girls basketball and softball coach and former longtime sports editor for the Ashtabula Star Beacon, pleaded not guilty this morning in Ashtabula County Common Pleas Court to five felony sex charges involving two girls who played sports for him.

He was indicted on single counts of child endangering and gross sexual imposition and three counts of sexual battery earlier this month by an Ashtabula County grand jury. He is also charged with two misdemeanor sexual-imposition offenses involving two other girls who played sports for him.

The charges followed an investigation that began this summer with allegations from a Jefferson High senior of improper text messages between McCormack and the girl. He was not charged in that matter.

The investigation expanded as a result of other students coming forward with allegations dating back to the 1980s.

For the complete story, read Wednesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com