Former coach faces more counts of statutory rape

A former East Newton School District coach pleaded innocent Thursday to three counts of statutory rape in the second degree.

Joshua Joseph Long, 30, of Oronogo, had been facing one count of rape before an amended complaint filed Monday in Jasper County Court added two more. Long allegedly had sex several times with a girl younger than 17. Kimberly Fisher, assistant Jasper County prosecutor, said all three charges involve the same girl.

Two of the encounters allegedly took place in May, the other in June, according to online court records.

Earlier this year, Long was hired to be the girls basketball coach at East Newton High School at Granby. Next season would have been his first with the district, but school officials asked for his resignation shortly after the first charge was filed against him Aug. 1. Long resigned Aug. 4.

The girl told authorities that she and Long had been trading text messages about having sex before she went to his home, where they had sex in the kitchen, according to a probable-cause affidavit filed with the initial charge. She reportedly told authorities that Long sent her a nude picture over her cell phone, and that she afterward sent him nude pictures.

When questioned by Jasper County authorities, Long initially denied all the allegations before admitting that he had sex with the girl three times at his home, according to the probable-cause affidavit.

A preliminary hearing has been set for Oct. 2.