State panel upholds sentence of ex-coach who molested child


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HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania court has rejected an excessive punishment appeal from a former junior high school basketball coach who filmed himself sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy.

Pennlive.com reports (http://bit.ly/1ZZKv9k ) a state Superior Court panel on Tuesday found that the sentence of Jonathan Masteller was appropriate. They say he abused his positions as a coach and pastor.

The Lancaster County man pleaded guilty to a dozen sexual abuse crimes. He was sentenced in November 2014 to 25 ½ to 80 years in state prison.

Masteller appealed saying some factors weren't considered, including his mental health problems and that he was sexually abused as a child.

The 25-year-old Masteller was the victim's basketball coach and youth pastor. The abuse was discovered in 2013 when a pastor found photos of the molestation.

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Information from: Pennlive.com, http://www.pennlive.com

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