SPRINGDALE : Ex-coach’s plea innocent in abuse case
Posted on Thursday, September 18, 2008
FAYETTEVILLE — The former Springdale Har-Ber High School baseball coach pleaded innocent Wednesday to sexual abuse charges, including some that were filed after his July arrest.
Mike Reagan, 41, pleaded innocent to four counts of rape and one count of second-degree sexual assault. He was arrested by Springdale police in July on two counts of rape.
Interviews with his accusers led to the additional charges being filed, deputy prosecuting attorney Terra Stephenson said.
Rick Schaeffer, spokesman for the Springdale School District, said Reagan will remain on paid suspension for the time being. Replacements have been found for his teaching and coaching duties.
“The one thing that remains constant is that there are no students in our district involved and that hasn’t changed,” Schaeffer said.
Reagan is accused of sodomizing two boys who were in his care. The boys are related to Reagan, but are not his children.
Stephenson said the nature of Reagan’s relationship with the boys is not being released.
There is no evidence that Reagan abused any of his students, Stephenson said.
The boys’ grandmother reported the crime to authorities in Missouri. Springdale police report the abuse began in summer 2007.
Stephenson said the older boy turned 14 during the time the abuse occurred and the younger boy turned 13. The assaults occurred at Reagan’s home and his business, Premier Sports Academy in Springdale. Because the older boy was 13 when some of the assaults occurred, a conviction would trigger a statutory minimum sentence of 25 years, Stephenson said. Three of the four counts against Reagan would carry that minimum, she said. A police report shows that the 14-year-old tested positive for herpes simplex virus II. Reagan also tested positive for the virus, the report states. Stephenson said there are subpoenas out and more could be issued, but she doesn’t anticipate bringing any more charges. “You never know,” she said. “Anything could happen, but at this point we’re not looking for more victims, we’re just looking to conduct a thorough investigation.” Reagan is free on a $ 20, 000
1 bond, which was posted about 1 / 2 hours after he was booked into the Washington County jail earlier this year. He appeared relaxed before his arraignment, visiting with his attorney John Everett as they waited in the lobby of the jail to appear before the judge. Judge Ray Reynolds cautioned Reagan against violating the conditions of his parole, making the point that he not contact the victims. Contacting them through a third party would still violate that order, he said. Reagan faces up to 40 years in prison or life if convicted of the rape charges. The sexual assault charge carries a prison term of up to 20 years. A Nov. 19 trial date has been set.
To contact this reporter: awallworth@arkansasonline. com
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
