Swanton coach quits after arrest in Bowling Green

11/16/2012

Swanton’s seventh-grade girls basketball coach, Lary LaVigne, Jr., resigned his coaching position last week, after his arrest for soliciting a Wood County sheriff’s deputy posing as a prostitute.

Mr. LaVigne, 55, of Swanton was charged with soliciting, a third-degree misdemeanor, in Bowling Green Municipal Court. According to Wood County sheriff’s reports, he was arrested about 10:40 a.m. Nov. 8 as part of a daylong undercover sting operation that deputies conducted at a Bowling Green hotel.

Swanton Local Schools Superintendent Jeff Schlade said Mr. LaVigne submitted his resignation the same day. A letter to the school board from Mr. LaVigne does not give a reason for his resignation, which comes at the start of the basketball season. Mr. Schlade said Kyle Borer has been named to coach the team.

Mr. Schlade said Mr. LaVigne had been a coach at the middle school for at least 10 years. He was paid $2,270 last year. Swanton attorney Clayton Gerbitz filed a not-guilty plea on Mr. LaVigne’s behalf in Bowling Green Municipal Court; a pretrial hearing has been set for Dec. 10.

Deputy Terry James said deputies arrested six people for soliciting, two for human trafficking, one for promoting prostitution, and two for prostitution.