AKRON — A former Olympic and U.S. World Team wrestler has been charged with sexual battery over an alleged sexual relationship with a student at an Ohio high school where he had served as a wrestling coach, police said.

Justin "Harry" Lester had a sexual relationship with a female student between April 1, 2018, and April 1, 2019, during his tenure as coach at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, Akron police said Friday. Police said the student was 18 to 19 years old at the time of the relationship.

Lester turned himself in at the Summit County Jail around 9 p.m. Thursday, according to police.

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Lester, 35, of Uniontown, was placed on unpaid administrative leave after the school learned of allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a student last year, St. V-M President Thomas M. Carone announced in an email to parents in April. According to Carone’s April email, the student has since graduated from high school.

In Akron Municipal Court records, the offense location is listed as 23 N. Walnut St. — the address for the school's Cosgrove Center, used primarily for St. V-M sports and special events.

Court records show bond was set at 10% of $15,000, which was posted Friday. Lester was arraigned Friday on the third-degree felony charge. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 24. A message was left seeking comment with Lester's attorney Friday afternoon.

Carone said in the April email that school staff members undergo state and federal background checks and must also complete VIRTUS training, instruction by certified facilitators on the prevention of child sexual abuse, when they’re hired. They’re required to continue that training throughout their employment at the school. Carone also said in the April email the school was launching its own internal investigation to review the three years Lester was employed at the school.

Lester won four state wrestling titles at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy before graduating in 2001 and going on to wrestle at Northern Michigan University. A 2012 Olympian and two-time World bronze medalist, Lester was selected to the U.S. World team eight times and won six U.S. Open championships, plus a championship in the 2007 Pan American Games.

He was introduced as St. V-M wrestling coach on April 14, 2016. He replaced interim coach Mark Skonieczny, who took over for Anthony Gary in the middle of the 2015 season upon Gary’s dismissal.

emills@thebeaconjournal.com

@EmilyMills818

