Freeport Area teacher accused of sexually assaulting minor pleads not guilty, case heads to court

Jared Lampus, the Freeport Area teacher and former volleyball coach accused of having sexual contact with a minor, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to the dozen charges leveled against him.

His attorney, Kelvin Morris, asked District Judge Jack D. Ripper to throw out the charges — including rape — at the preliminary hearing in Saxonburg, but Ripper allowed the case to proceed to Butler County Court.

Family members and supporters of the victim were present at the hearing, in addition to representatives from Butler County’s Children’s Advocacy Center.

Lampus, 50, of Buffalo Township is a teacher at Freeport Elementary School and served as a coach at Pittsburgh Elite Volleyball Association until July.

He has been suspended from his teaching position and resigned from the volleyball association.

According to a criminal complaint filed against him, Lampus began sexually abusing the minor in July 2023. Police said Lampus and the girl had numerous forced sexual interactions throughout Allegheny, Butler and Armstrong counties, often in Lampus’ car in locations such as the Pittsburgh Mills, Harrison Hills Park and Starbucks parking lots.

The alleged victim, who testified virtually at the hearing, stated Lampus also had sex with her in his Buffalo Elementary classroom, his Buffalo Township home and hotels in Indianapolis and Columbus, Ohio.

Lampus has not been charged in Indiana or Ohio.

Assistant District Attorney Laura Pitchford led the prosecution, asking the alleged victim to describe her evolving relationship with Lampus and detail the numerous sexual encounters she endured.

The alleged victim said the encounters began after she started receiving private volleyball lessons from Lampus in 2023, which she continued to pay for throughout the years of abuse, according to her testimony.

She testified at the hearing that she did not feel she could tell Lampus “no.” She said Lampus repeatedly told her he would kill himself if she revealed the abuse. She also said she was worried about her volleyball career.

When she tried to move away or resist, she said, Lampus restricted her and told her not to squirm. Lampus also handcuffed the minor twice, according to court documents.

Lampus sometimes paid the victim after sexual encounters, but she said she mostly discarded the money.

Morris, the defense attorney, questioned why the victim continued to seek lessons from Lampus and asked if she informed anyone of his inappropriate behavior. The victim said she told no one.

Lampus did not testify or offer any comment to reporters, and the defense called no witnesses.

Ripper denied an attempt by the defense to lower Lampus’ bail from $500,000 to $100,000. He remains in the Butler County jail.

The Freeport Area School District released a statement saying it “has been notified that one of its elementary teachers is the subject of a law enforcement investigation. At this time, the school district does not have complete information regarding the circumstances involved.

“The safety of our students is the highest priority of the Freeport Area School District. Accordingly, the teacher involved has been placed on leave pending further information or the outcome of the investigation.”

Ashley Green, director of the Pittsburgh Elite Volleyball Association, released an email statement saying the association “has been notified that one of its former coaches is the subject of a criminal investigation unrelated to his involvement with the organization.

“The coach involved resigned from the organization effective July 30, has not been present at the organization’s facility since that date and will not be returning to Pitt Elite,” the statement said.

Lampus’ preliminary arraignment in Butler County Court is set for Oct. 14.