EASTON Pa. — The head coach of Freedom High School's girls' volleyball team has been charged with sexually assaulting a student and supplying her with cocaine and alcohol, it was announced Friday.
Christopher Schweikert, 27, of Coplay, who also is a teacher at the school, had a sexual relationship with the girl, whom he coached, authorities said.
Schweikert was arrested Friday morning at his residence. He was arraigned by District Justice Sandra McClure of Bethlehem Township and jailed under $1 million bail.
- Christopher Schweikert, a Freedom High School teacher and volleyball coach, was charged Friday with sexually assaulting an underage student and player of his
- Authorities said Schweikert had a six-month sexual relationship with the girl, and gave her alcohol and cocaine
- He was jailed under $1 million bail
Schweikert is charged with sexual assault by a sports official, corruption of minors and institutional sexual assault, Northampton County District Attorney Terry Houck said in a news release.
The Bethlehem Area School District learned of the allegations on Jan. 4 and placed Schweikert on leave without pay immediately, pending the outcome of several investigations, according to a school district statement.
The district's statement issued concern for the victim and the entire student body.
"This is a difficult time for all members of the Freedom family," Principal Laurie Sage said in the prepared statement. "Administrators and counselors are prepared to support students and staff as we work through this distressing news."
According to the district attorney's office, the Bethlehem Township Police Department on Jan. 4 became aware of an intimate relationship between Schweikert and the victim.
Through what authorities called "an in-depth investigation, police learned the victim and Schweikert met during her freshman year at Freedom High School when he was her volleyball coach."
Schweikert also was coached the victim outside the school, the release said.
Authorities said he began texting the girl in December 2021 and physical contact began a few months later, with sexual acts with the child continuing through summer 2022.
The girl told police that during the time that Schweikert was having sexual contact with her, they would meet at his home in Coplay, hotel rooms in Lehigh County and in Asbury, N.J., and a parking lot in Bethlehem Township.
When they met, they would engage in sexual acts, she told police. In addition, she said he gave her alcohol and cocaine on multiple occasions when they were together.
Police obtained and executed a search warrant for the girl’s cell phone and computer, which were sent to the Pennsylvania State Police laboratory for forensic examination. The examination revealed a number of explicit videos of the defendant engaging in multiple sexual acts with the girl.
“The unspeakable trust violation that occurred, not only by a teacher on a student, but by a coach on his player, is reprehensible," Houck said in the release.
"A child is in a particularly vulnerable position when interacting with an adult. Besides the normal position of authority an adult holds in a child’s life, it is further intensified when there is the added dynamic of being a teacher or a coach. "Northampton County District Attorney Terry Houck
"These adults hold the lives of these children in their hand. I want to thank the Bethlehem Township Police Department and Detective Gretchen Kraemer for their tireless work in this case, in addition to the Department of Homeland Security Investigations RAC Allentown for their assistance in helping consolidate this investigation.
"Their diligent efforts and quick, yet thorough, actions have allowed us to protect this victim, and any additional victims from this defendant who abused his positional power.”
The school district notified township police and Children and Youth Services when it became aware of the allegations on Jan. 4, the district's statement said. Both agencies quickly began investigations.
In a letter to parents and students, Principal Sage said all questions would be fielded through the superintendent's office.
"Student physical and emotional safety is our first priority," Superintendent Joseph Roy said in the statement. "The alleged inappropriate behavior violates community trust in our schools, undermines safety, and is illegal, intolerable and inexcusable."
Sage in the letter to students and parents said "the news that has been shared is extremely disturbing.
"We are equipped and ready to deploy additional resources and/or safe places to process any feelings of distress that may manifest for students upon hearing such information. Should your child be in need of additional support, please contact his/her school counselor directly."
The district attorney's office asked that anyone with additional information call Detective Kraemer with the Bethlehem Township Police Department at 610-814-6473.
