(06/28/08 - Initial BBT Report)
Gregory Strittmatter, 49, a former softball coach at Indiana Area Senior High School in Indiana, Pennsylvania has been arrested on allegations of sending sexually suggestive messages via a cell phone to a 15-year-old student and ex-player.
It is alleged that Strittmatter began text-messaging the the girl in May and that by month’s end the messages became more personal and eventually turned sexual.
Allegedly Strittmatter sent text messages to the girl including:
“I’m lying here in bed can’t stop thinking of you. I need you.”
“I wish i could hold you now. I have to refrain from the ultimate passion with you but i don’t think i can.”
“I miss you. I need you. I wish you were here.”
The girl’s father became aware of the messages while at at a softball game after his daughter handed her cell phone to him. The father then gave the phone to his son who showed one of the messages to the girl’s father.
According to the criminal complaint, the girl’s father spoke to Strittmatter’s wife about the message, and she begged him not to ruin her family. Reportedly the girl’s father also spoke to Strittmatter who allegedly told him that he has a problem and needs help.
Strittmatter is charged with having unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors and harassment and stalking and following arraignment was released on $5,000 bond.
Strittmatter resigned his position with the school via an e-mail on June 13th.
His next court date is set for August 12th.
References:
Ex-softball coach at Indiana high school faces charges (06/28/08)
Coach charged over explicit messages to girl (06/28/08)
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September 4th, 2008 at 10:06 am
this man is at fault no matter what. i cannot imagine it happening to my teenager and this man has no business around kids. i feel bad for the girl (or girls) he did this too, because no matter what, they are still children. and i feel bad for the family of both. to have to live with a “man” who is a predator and for the family who has to live in the town with him and wonder if the child will ever trust a man again. keep this man away from children for good.
July 30th, 2008 at 5:38 am
What a dumb (***)! All of this area’s coaches and people in “trust” working with minors should be more closely examined. I would not be surprised to find other instances of innappropriate behavior esp. given this persons stature in the community. Its people like him who have lived here all their lives and think they are above the law! I hope the judge thows the book at this (*******)!
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This comment edited by site moderator in accordance with our policies as outlined in the “About Comments” page.
July 10th, 2008 at 9:08 am
Let me begin by saying that I’m not defending anyone in this situation. I am an athletic coach in the western PA area and frequently text my players. In this day and age, we, as a society, rely on cell phones and emails for the nearly instant delivery they provide. I see no problem with a coach texting players regarding changes in game or practices or other team activities.
The problem lies with both people in this situation. I’m sorry fiddlestyx98, but Strittmatter should be viewed as a pedophile. He approached an underage girl in a sexual manner and that is unacceptable - especially since he was her coach. Coaches are supposed to mentor, challenge and help a student grow into his or her full potential, not just as an athlete but also as a person. Strittmatter failed this girl, the team, his family and the community in this responsibility.
I do agree with you that the girl is not without fault. Believe me, as a coach at the high school level I have seen and heard things that would make truckers blush - and this from the mouths of 15 and 16-year-old students. While I do not know whether the girl replied to Strittmatter’s advances, she obviously did not feel threatened enough to alert her parents to the situation. She should have told someone the minute she received the first inappropriate text message. Did she play into the situation by replying back to Strittmatter’s advances, we can’t say for sure. But, if she did, she should also bear some of the blame for her actions. In truth, we should also blame society as well.
We live in a society that uses sexual imagery to sell products to the teen population. From the sexually suggestive advertisements for Bod and Axe body sprays to Miley Cyrus (a 15-year-old) posing nearly nude for Vanity Fair, we, as a society, are being trained to see beauty and sexuality in our youth. From Back Street Boys to Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, our children are becoming icons for sexuality with their scantily clad images plastered all over magazines, billboards and television as sexual icons. Add this new sense of teen sexuality to the seemingly endless abilities of today’s technologies and we are headed for trouble.
Parents do not understand the influence of today’s technologies that allow students to take pictures with cell phones, watch movies on iPods and harass, bully or stalk students via the internet. Our technology has made us a less personal society and our children are the ones seeing the effects as there is no shame or timidity in nudity or sexual behavior, and nearly every kid over 12 has a cell phone. I have a strict policy with my players that all cell phones are stowed away during practice and games. If I see one, I confiscate the cell phone and give it to the player’s parent to do with as he or she sees fit. I usually recommend that the parent browse through the phone to see what is so important as to interrupt a game or practice.
In conclusion: Strittmatter should be viewed as a pedophile, the girl in questioned should be reprimanded for her actions, or inaction, and we, as a people, should take a serious look at the morality of our society.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:40 pm
I can see no plausible reason for a 49 yr. old coach to text this nasty stuff to a teen. I don’t care if she was naked and at his door. No way is it normal for a 50 yr. old geezer to have feelings for a 16 YO. How the heck old are his kids - 25ish?
And how old is the girl’s dad? I bet he is younger than the coach.
You know, it would be very unusual for this to be the first time, for a guy that age.
Why, oh why, leave these text messages on your phones?
June 29th, 2008 at 10:23 pm
fiddlestyx98, You are talking about a 15 year old girl and a grown man. She is a victim and no one in this town should see it any other way. You sound like the person who says a woman deserved to be raped, after all she asked for it look what she was wearing.
Who cares if teenager thought it was ok to message her teacher back? That’s the way adolescent girls think. Her teacher had no business messengering her in the first place. Hen was right when he said he needs help.
June 28th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
this is a very interesting and sad story but some of these comments are false. Yes these crude nature text massages should not have been sent by strittmatter. And yes there is proof of these messages. But what is not in this story is the facts of the 15 year old girl that goes by (Deleted by site admin). Where another correct fact that can be found is in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and it states that strittmatters wife had gone to this girls father to tell him that greg was having an affair with this mans wife. She did this after seeing some of the text messages that stated “Oh my Greggy… I miss you.” Or “I wish i could have everything with you”. A little much for a girl that doesnt respond to these messages and tells her father that she is scared and then he files charges against strittmatter. Also no evidence has been charged agaisnt strittmatter for having any physical contact with this girl. I’m not standing up for this man but when you hear the whole story and listen to all the facts it showes that this girl was quite interested in this man. And although strittmatter is an adult and shouldn’t have let the messages go this far, or text matter of this subject, and shouldn’t have responded to messages of this nature he will be held responsible for his actions. it seems like this 15 year old found out that her father knew about these messages and got scared and blamed them on strittmatter. This probably been swept under the rug but because of this girl not taking responsibility of her actions strittmatter will be seen as a pedophile in his community by some. I beleive that after this court hearing is over and all the facts are brought forward this little girl will have to walk down the hall ways of her high school with the embarrasment of “Being the girl that tried to get with her 49 year old softball coach”. If this is true its sad that a 15 year old girl that is too afraid to take responsibility for her actions is going to possibly ruin a mans life. Almost makes you wonder if the parents of this girl have much money and are trying to reach a money agreement. Lots of possibilities. I’m going to find as much information on this girl that goes by (Deleted by site admin) for everyone. Hopefully get more information on the text messages in themself. After an interview the fact about how the girl didnt respond is (Deleted by site admin). I have seen these messages with my own eyes. She was also pushing the limit of the situation also.
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This comment edited by site admin to remove one profanity and two mentions of a “goes by name” of the alleged victim. This site DOES NOT under any circumstances identify victims or alleged victims of sex crimes by name, “goes by name”, nickname or initials. For our policies on comments please see the “About Comments” page. - Webmaster@badbadteacher.com
June 28th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
wow