A local High School cross country coach was arrested after he allegedly provided alcohol for a female student.
William Ryan Lichtner, 24, of Ambler has coached cross country at Hatboro-Horsham Senior High School for the past two years. On May 24, a 17-year-old student at the school and member of the cross country team told her guidance counselor that Lichtner had been supplying her with alcoholic beverages. After the report, the Hatboro-Horsham School District contacted the Horsham Township Police Department who began to investigate.
Credit: Horsham Township Police
The investigation revealed Lichtner supplied alcohol to the teen girl at least eight times over the past six months, according to police. The School District says none of the incidents happened during school hours or within school property.
Lichtner is charged with corruption of minors and furnishing liquor to minors.
He was arraigned today with bail set at $10,000 unsecured. He will remain free on unsecured bail pending resolution of the charges.
The Hatboro-Horsham School District released the following statement regarding the arrest:
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Lichtner served as the girls cross country coach during the fall season for the past two years. He also worked during the district’s Red and Black activities and as a timer at various track meets. Prior to employment within Hatboro-Horsham, Lichtner went through the required background checks for criminal record and child abuse history clearances, commonly known as Act 34 and Act 151. Those background checks gave no indication of any previous criminal behavior. The girls cross country season, a fall sport, was not in session during the time of the incident and Lichtner was not functioning in a coaching capacity for the school district.
“I was troubled by the actions of this adult and disheartened by this incident because the district continuously strives to provide its students with a safe educational atmosphere,” said Dr. Curtis Griffin, Superintendent of Schools. “This situation was resolved quickly because the student involved confided in her guidance counselor, which allowed the district to take appropriate action.”
