By Derek Spellman
dspellman@joplinglobe.com
An East Newton School District basketball coach resigned upon request Monday after he was charged with statutory rape in Jasper County.
Joshua Joseph Long, 30, of Oronogo, was charged Friday after he allegedly had sex in June with a girl younger than 17 at his home. East Newton Superintendent Tanya Vest had requested Long’s resignation in the wake of the charges, and Long officially resigned Monday morning, said Lyle Sparkman, assistant superintendent.
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, Sparkman said.
Had Long declined to resign, Sparkman said, the issue would have been put to the school board. Sparkman said he could not comment any further on the case because it is a personnel issue. Long had been a coach in the McDonald County and Carl Junction school districts before being hired at East Newton High School.
Efforts to obtain comment from Long were unsuccessful Monday.
Cpl. Brandi Richardson, of the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department, said the investigation is continuing, but that she was not aware of any further charges that would be brought against Long. Long was released from custody after posting a $5,000 bond, she said.
Long is charged with one count of statutory rape in the second degree, a Class C felony.
The girl reportedly 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. She further 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 a probable-cause affidavit.
Penalty
If convicted, Joshua Long would face up to seven years in prison, a $5,000 fine or a combination of the two.
