Boys lax coach convicted in Philly
youth sports sex scandal sentencing delayed
Nov 11, 2003
Sentencing was delayed Monday for
a female former lacrosse coach who admitted to having
sexual encounters with two teenage boys and providing
alcohol to minors.
Elisa Fritter pleaded guilty in July to multiple counts
of indecent assault, statutory sexual assault and related
crimes. Chester County Judge William P. Mahon delayed
the sentencing at her attorney's request, and a new date
wasn't immediately set.
Fritter, 39, of East Coventry Township, met the boys
while coaching her 13-year-old son's lacrosse team.
In addition to the sex acts, she has admitted to hosting
drinking parties for underage boys from Pottsgrove High
School.
Prosecutor Elizabeth Pitts, who is seeking a lengthy
prison term, said e-mails Fritter sent to the boys suggest
she was a willing participant in the sexual trysts.
"Such a sentence would also reflect the seriousness
of a case where an athletic coach inserts herself into
the lives of young people, established relationships
of trust, then engages in the ultimate betrayal,"
Pitts wrote in a sentencing memorandum.
Pitts said Fritter told one boy in an e-mail that he
was the father of twins she was pregnant with and then
wrote him weeks later to say she had miscarried. It
is not known if Fritter was actually pregnant, Pitts
said.
In other e-mails, Fritter allegedly boasted of having
made one teen "completely spoiled" and urged
another boy to keep their sexual liaisons secret.
Fritter's attorney, Jack McMahon, has said drinking
contributed to his client's actions.
Police began investigating after a county family services
agency received two anonymous letters accusing Fritter,
a former coach for the Pottstown Lacrosse Association
for Youth, of having a relationship with two boys.
Information from: The Philadelphia Inquirer
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