Former youth coach faces child molestation charges
|
The defendant, Mark DiChristina, 39, is charged with two counts of aggravated sexual battery, a crime which carries three to six years in prison. He is free on $100,000 bond awaiting arraignment later this month.
DiChristina is charged with engaging in unlawful sexual contact with a 12-year-old family member during the months of November and December of 2001. The reason why the child waited so long to report the crimes is unknown. The crimes reportedly involved DiChristina fondling the girl.
According to prosecutors, a complaint about the alleged incidents was filed with lawmen and then the case was investigated by the Department of Children’s Services. It was during the probe prosecutors say they found the child was sexually assaulted on at least two occasions.
The charges come after DiChristina enjoyed a long volunteer career, coaching both boys and girls basketball, beginning in 1985. He coached AAU leagues and Jaycee leagues.
While some of his teams involved girls who were roughly the same age of the family member he allegedly molested, lawmen have found no evidence he molested or attempted to molest the girls on his teams.
In addition to his work with youth sports, DiChristina is perhaps best known for his accomplishments in cooking as he was declared the best cook in Warren County recently two years in a row during the annual contest at the Warren County A&L Fair.