Nathan Smith, 24, a wrestling coach and teacher at Minerva Elementary School in Minerva, OH, was charged with child endangering last week. Jason Lutz, 43, who is also a wrestling coach and teacher at Minerva Elementary School, was charged with complicity to child endangering (per FOX8 Cleveland).
The charges for Smith and Lutz stem from an incident that occurred in December during a wrestling practice being held at Minerva High School. That incident resulted in a 12-year-old student wrestler being injured after the coaches allegedly ordered 16 members of the team to, all at once, try to take down the 12-year-old. After the incident the 12-year-old required medical attention.
The injured child’s parents reported the incident to Minerva police, stating that their son had been assaulted by his middle school teammates at the behest of the coaches. Village Prosecutor Caitlyn Schneider investigated the wrestling practice where it is alleged the child was injured.
“Outside of a normal practice for wrestling, it was not in the course of the practice; it was not a normal disciplinary tactic,” said Schneider as they explained what they learned about the incident. “I was a high school and college athlete; I’m thoroughly aware that kids get hurt in practices and matches and meets and whatever it is they’re doing. It’s just that, based on the interviews from everyone, that was not the case here.”
Minerva Schools Superintendent Gary Chaddock issued a statement regarding school administrators’ reactions to the incident. “The district followed all necessary protocols and assigned the coaches to home, while an investigation by both the district and law enforcement took place,” read part of the statement. “We take this situation very seriously, and our district fully cooperated with the investigations.”
Ohio’s criminal code states that “using excessive physical or corporal punishment that creates a serious risk of physical harm” is among the criteria needed for a charge of child endangering. The penalties for a first time offense of child endangering depend on the severity of the circumstances, but could include a maximum of six months in jail, up to $1,000 in fines and a maximum of 200 hours of community service.
If child endangering results in ‘significant physical harm’ those convicted could face a between two and eight years in prison, up to $15,000 in fines and up to 200 hours of community service.