SAXONBURG, Pa. — A former elementary school teacher and volleyball coach has pleaded not guilty to charges of raping a teenager.
Jared Lampus appeared in front of a magistrate on Tuesday afternoon in Saxonburg.
Channel 11 was the only TV station there when Lampus was brought from the Butler County Prison.
Lampus pleaded not guilty to charges of raping a teenager, sexual assault, and corruption of a minor. The alleged victim is now 18 years old, but the Butler County District Attorney’s Office says all of this started when she was 16.
She testified virtually in court that she met Lampus through the Pittsburgh Elite Volleyball Association when she signed up for private lessons with him. She said things soon progressed in a sexual manner, detailing how Lampus had sex with her in his car, at his house and inside his classroom in the Freeport Area School District.
Court documents detailed how Lampus would sometimes handcuff the teen during these encounters. The victim told the court Lampus would sometimes pay her after having sex and said he’d end his life if she told anyone.
Family members of the victim attended the hearing for Jared Lampus, as the case against him moves forward. They spoke with Channel 11 off camera, saying they pray there aren’t any more victims.
Fathers of other athletes coached by Lampus and representatives with the Children’s Advocacy Center in Butler County showed up for support.
Judge Jack Ripper denied the defense’s request to lower bail, which is currently set at half a million dollars.
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