Indystar.com reports: The case against a Pike Township girls’ basketball coach accused of having a sexual relationship with a female student who was on her team developed in the past few months, according to court documents filed by the Marion County prosecutor.
The affidavit says the teenage girl told investigators that she had been involved in a sexual relationship with Sara Strahm.
Strahm, 28, the women’s basketball coach at Pike High School, has been charged with six felony counts of child seduction, with each felony count referring to an alleged sex act between the coach and the student.
Strahm had no comment after a court hearing this morning. She is free on $5,000 bond after being arrested last Friday.
The affidavit said the 17-year-old student who reportedly was involved with the coach told Tiffany Thomas, another member of the school coaching staff. That information on the allegations was given to Pike Township Schools police and then passed along to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, which started its investigation Friday, the affidavit read.
An e-mail that had been sent to the Pike athletic director tipped investigators to the case.
The athletic director, James Perkins, is quoted in the affidavit as saying there had been allegations about teacher and student earlier this autumn, that Strahm had denied the relationship, and that he had warned Strahm about contact with members of the basketball team.
Both women initially denied, then admitted to the relationship, according to the affidavit.
Strahm was named the girls’ varsity basketball coach at Pike High School in April.
David Barlow, an assistant for six years, took over as interim coach, the athletic director said Monday. He is the father of former Pike standout Ashley Barlow, a senior at the University of Notre Dame.
Pike school officials have not formally announced whether they have taken any action against Strahm.
Strahm, 28, was an Indianapolis Star Indiana All-Star in 2000, when she started on Ben Davis’ state championship team. She coached two seasons at Danville (2005-07) before spending the past two seasons as an assistant at Ben Davis.
The Pike girls, who have 8 wins on 12 games so far this season, play Tuesday in the Bedford North Lawrence Tournament.
