Indictment and Allegations
A Cuyahoga County grand jury has returned an indictment charging former baseball coach Steven Smetana with multiple felonies, including rape, for alleged sexual assault of a minor.
Prosecutors say the abuse began with text messages sent to a girl under 13, progressed to sexual intercourse at her home, and included further encounters at a nearby church and a public park where the victim performed oral sex on Smetana.
Smetana is scheduled to appear for arraignment later this month, where the charges will be formally read and initial pleas entered.
Career and Institutional Ties
The former coach earned a place in the Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017 after a playing career that included stints within the Boston Red Sox organization.
He later served as head baseball coach for the Berkshire Local School District during the 2009 season, a role that brought him into close contact with students and families in the Chardon area.