Former High School Basketball Coach Convicted

RIPON, Wis (WRPN)- The former Ripon High School varsity boys’ basketball coach accused of having sex with a student has been convicted of four felony charges.

Mihai Schnell-Harrison was in Fond du Lac County Court Monday where he pled “no contest” to felony charges of sexual assault of a student by school staff, exposing genitals, causing mental harm to a child, and child abuse intentionally causing harm.  Three other charges were read into the record and dismissed. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for December 19^th.

According to the criminal complaint Schnell-Harrison and the victim met in a group-chat online, but they moved their chats to Snapchat. Their chats became more graphic and sexual in nature. They eventually began exchanging nude photos of themselves. Ultimately, they met last November 6^th and had sex.

The victim was 16 years old at the time. Schnell-Harrison at first told Ripon Police he didn’t know the victim wasn’t 18. A school district official told investigators Schnell-Harrison was still employed as the head basketball coach when he met with the student.