Freeport teacher, volleyball coach pleads not guilty to rape, assault charges
Prosecution against a Buffalo Elementary School teacher and local volleyball coach charged with rape and sexual assault is moving forward after a preliminary hearing held Tuesday, Aug. 26.
Jared Lampus, 45, of Sarver, plead not guilty to the charges that accuse him of raping and sexually abusing a teenage girl on multiple occasions between July 2023 and 2025 under the guise of offering her “self-defense lessons.”
Judge Jack D. Ripper denied the defense’s request to lower Lampus’ bail from $500,000.
Lampus was arrested Aug. 18 and charged with one felony count each of rape, human trafficking, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault, sexual assault, intercourse with a student, sexual assault by a sports official, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors and criminal attempt at involuntary deviate sexual intercourse; and one misdemeanor count each of corruption of minors and theft.
The teen, now 18, testified over zoom and was questioned by the prosecution and defense at the Tuesday hearing. She was 16 at the time the alleged incidents began.
At the hearing, the teen testified that Lampus raped and assaulted her while providing private volleyball lessons, private tennis lessons and having her shadow him in his classroom. She testified she felt she couldn’t say no, due to Lampus’ threats he would kill himself and fears he would “go to jail.”
She testified Tuesday about incidents happening in Lampus’ jeep, in his classroom, at his home and at a hotel in Columbus, Ohio.
