John ‘Jay’ Smith has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of child endangering after originally being charged with sexual imposition, disorderly conduct and phone threats. He remains banned by the U.S. Center for SafeSport.
Smith was a former swim coach for the WTRC Sharks swim team, based out of the Washington Township Recreation Center (WTRC) in Centerville, Ohio. Smith allegedly asked an underage swimmer to meet him in an equipment room and used baby oil to rub the swimmer underneath her swim suit in two incidents in February of 2018. He was banned from coaching for life by the U.S. Center for SafeSport on April 10.
A spokesperson with the WTRC club said the team reported the incident as soon as it became aware.
Now, local TV station WHIO7 reports that Smith has pleaded guilty to child endangering. He could face up to six months in prison along with a $1,000 fine. His sentencing is scheduled for March 11.
Smith remains in the U.S. Center for SafeSports ban database under “criminal disposition – involving a minor.” That ban leaves him ineligible to coach any Olympic sport, as the U.S. Center for SafeSport oversees bans in all U.S. Olympic sports.