Ex-coach pleads guilty to sexual assault

PARKERSBURG -- A week before his scheduled trial, a former Belpre High School soccer coach pleaded guilty Tuesday to four counts of third-degree sexual assault.

Trent Jacob Stanley, 23, of Ravenswood, admitted before Wood County Circuit Court Judge Jason Wharton that he engaged in sexual intercourse on at least four occasions with a girl under the age of 16 after taking her to his apartment on Red Hill Road in Parkersburg.

"I met her through … when I was coaching," Stanley said in response to questions from the judge during the change-of-plea hearing.

Stanley said he had known the girl for "a period of time" before the sexual encounters, which occurred between October and December of 2017.

"I knew going into it how old" she was, he said.

Stanley had been set to stand trial starting Oct. 30 on seven counts of third-degree sexual assault and eight counts of sexual abuse by a person in a position of trust, all involving the same juvenile. The remaining charges would be dismissed as part of the plea deal.

Stanley faces a sentence of one to five years in prison and as much as a $10,000 fine on each charge when he is sentenced Dec. 10.

Assistant Prosecutor Emily Martin said the victim, her family and law enforcement agreed with the plea deal. It "secures four felony convictions … without putting the victim through the stress of having to come in and testify," Martin said.

As part of the agreement, Stanley will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, "which would hopefully prevent the defendant from ever coaching again," she said.

Stanley's attorney, George Cosenza, said that by pleading to sexual assault his client was avoiding the most serious counts, as the sexual abuse by a person in a position of trust charges each carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years.

In addition, Stanley agreed to pay restitution for any damage caused by his criminal conduct, which Wharton said applies to all the charges, not just the ones to which he is pleading guilty.

Cosenza made a motion that Stanley be granted probation or another form of alternative sentencing. Wharton said he would take it under advisement but made no ruling.

At the conclusion of Tuesday's hearing, Wharton revoked Stanley's bond and ordered him remanded to the custody of the North Central Regional Jail in Doddridge County. Stanley asked for a moment to speak to his parents, but the bailiff told him it was time to leave the courtroom.

"I love you," Stanley said to his parents as he walked out.

Stanley was arrested May 7 by the Wood County Sheriff's Department. The coach of the coed high school soccer team and a boys junior high track coach, Stanley was suspended by Belpre City Schools in April following a complaint of "inappropriate conduct." He was not a full-time employee of the district, and his one-year coaching contract was not renewed.

Stanley has also been investigated by the Belpre Police Department, which referred the case to the Washington County Prosecutor's Office. Due to the potential appearance of a conflict of interest, that office requested the appointment of a special prosecutor, and the case was assigned to Adams County Prosecutor David Kelley.

Assistant Washington County Prosecutor Allison Cauthorn previously said the Belpre investigation involved two potential victims, one of them the girl from the Wood County case.

A call to Kelley was not returned Tuesday.