Judge to ex-Palmyra coach: You failed miserably

(Lebanon) — Telling her that she had “failed miserably” as a role model, a Lebanon County judge Wednesday sentenced former Palmyra Area School District softball coach Kathleen Wicker to two years probation for supplying alcohol to minors, including members of the softball team, at her home.

President Judge John C. Tylwalk sentenced the 43-year-old Wicker on one count each of endangering the welfare of children and corruption of minors and three of furnishing alcohol to minors. She was also ordered to pay fines totaling $3,600 and must serve six months of her probation on house arrest.

Wicker pleaded no contest to the charges on June 3. She was charged in April last year and fired from her coaching job.

Megan Ryland-Tanner, assistant district attorney, said Wicker permitted students to go into her home and drink.

The case came to light after the mother of one of the students became suspicious after seeing one of her daughter’s text messages, Ryland-Tanner said. The mother contacted the school district and the case unraveled, the prosecutor said.

The charge of endangering the welfare of children was reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor, Ryland-Tanner said. She said Wicker has no prior criminal record. Had the charge not been reduced, Wicker would have faced three months in prison, the prosecutor said.

Ryland-Tanner said Wicker had broken the trust of the students.

Even the students struggled through the case, fearing they would be charged, she said.

“These kids looked up to you, respected you. You really put them in a really uncomfortable spot,” the judge said to Wicker.

Tylwalk said teachers, coaches and sports figures are role models whether they want that role or not.

“You failed miserably in that position,” the judge told Wicker.

Wicker may have been going through stress in her life, including the death of her father, but that does not excuse her actions, Tylwalk said.

Wicker expressed in writing her concerns about being placed under house arrest. Tylwalk said he could substitute the house arrest with three months in prison.

“We will take the six months of house arrest,” said her defense attorney, Kristen Weisenberger.

The judge said the former softball coach was given “a very substantial break” with the reduction of the endangering the welfare of children charge and combing 15 counts of furnishing alcohol to minors to three counts. Combing the 15 counts of furnishing alcohol to minors to three counts saved Wicker $12,000 in fines, the judge also noted.

By pleading no contest, Wicker never admitted to committing the crimes, the judge said.

Police charged Wicker with providing alcohol to minors between June 1, 2014, and April 12, 2015, at her Palmyra home at 414 E. Cherry St.

Police began an investigation on April 13 last year after a school district student reported that Wicker had provided alcohol to members of the girl’s softball team that weekend at her home. The student told police that had happened multiple times.

The Palmyra school board fired Wicker on May 14 last year.

According to a police affidavit, Wicker played drinking games with the students and belittled them when they did not want to drink. She also aided them in making up stories to tell their parents so that they could attend parties.

A student told police a beer pong table was set up in Wicker’s kitchen during a party during the fall of 2014. Several students told police that they paid Wicker $5 for food.

This story is part of a partnership between WITF and the Lebanon Daily News.