Nathan C. Ridley

FAIRVIEW TWP — A former volunteer softball coach at Karns City High School is accused of sending sexually explicit photographs to a 17-year-old girl last year.

State police Wednesday charged Nathan C. Ridley, 39, of Donegal Township with a felony count of dissemination of explicit sexual material to a minor and a misdemeanor count of corruption of minors.

Police said they began their investigation Oct. 31 when they learned of the allegations against Ridley.

Investigators spoke to the victim, who first met the defendant in early 2018 while she was playing softball at Karns City High School, according to court documents.

“She related they had become good friends,” a police affidavit said, “as he would take her to and from softball games.”

Last June, the girl recounted to investigators, she spent the night at Ridley's home.

“The victim related that (the defendant) began talking weird the following week,” the affidavit said.

The girl described comments of a sexual nature that Ridley made via Snapchat and Facebook Messenger. She also accused him of sending lewd photos depicting girls.

Police on Dec. 3 interviewed the defendant. They said he acknowledged he “may have” sent the girl one of the messages she described to investigators.

Ridley told police he was “just being a pervert,” the affidavit said, when they asked him why he allegedly sent the message.

He claimed that the only photo he could recall sending the victim, police said, was a “meme,” which is an image that includes text and is used to convey a message.

His characterization of the meme, the affidavit said, was of two girls embracing while dressed in underwear.

While not commenting on the allegations, the Karns City School District released a prepared statement in wake of Ridley's charges.

“At (the district), our volunteers must meet all of the requirements in our volunteer policy before they are permitted to volunteer in our schools,” the statement said.

“If at any time it is brought to our attention that a volunteer no longer meets the requirements, his or her volunteer privileges will be immediately revoked.”

Ridley's volunteer status in the district began March 12, 2018, but has since been revoked, Deana Turner, business affairs director, said in an email response.

She did not indicate when his volunteer position was terminated.

Court records did not indicate if Ridley has an attorney. He could not be reached for comment.

Ridley is to turn himself in for an arraignment at the office of District Judge Lewis Stoughton in Chicora, authorities said. A date, however, had not been determined.