A JV volleyball coach in LaPorte County has been charged with two counts of sexual misconduct with a minor and one count of child seduction, the Indiana State Police said.

On Thursday Robert R. Ashcraft, 45, of LaPorte, turned himself in at the LaPorte County Jail on those charges.

One of the sexual misconduct charges is a Class B felony punishable by a term of six to 20 years; the other, a Class C felony punishable by a term of two to eight years. Child seduction is a Class D felony punishable by a term of six months to three years.

According to police, the charges stem from an investigation opened in October by Trooper Gretchen Deal.

“Ashcraft at the time of the alleged incidents was a junior varsity volleyball coach at a local high school,” police said. “He was not involved with the school in any other capacity other than coaching. He has since left that position and is no longer affiliated with the school. The victim was under the age of 16 at the time.”

Police said that the investigation is ongoing.

Posted 12/18/2009