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A former professional baseball player and high school coach has been indicted on multiple felony counts, including rape, after allegedly sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl in Parma Heights and meeting with her repeatedly at a church and local park.
Steven Smetana, 53, of Chardon, is the Former Berkshire High School Baseball Coach Accused of Raping a Child in Parma Heights, Ohio who was arrested on May 4, 2026, following a search of his Geauga County home by multiple law enforcement agencies. A Cuyahoga County grand jury subsequently indicted Smetana on 12 counts including five counts of rape, three counts of gross sexual imposition, two counts of importuning, one count of grooming, and one count of possessing criminal tools. He is scheduled to be arraigned on June 10, 2026, in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. Bond was set at $50,000 with a no-contact order and a prohibition from leaving Ohio.
According to the criminal complaint filed in Parma Municipal Court, the alleged incidents began in late March 2026 at a home in Parma Heights. Investigators say Smetana communicated with the alleged victim via text messages before the alleged assault. The complaint further states that on multiple other occasions, he allegedly met the alleged victim at a nearby church before driving her to a local park where additional alleged sexual acts occurred. The case was not reported to Parma Heights police until April 27, 2026, weeks after the initial alleged incident, and was immediately transferred to the Detective Bureau for investigation.
Smetana pitched professionally in the Boston Red Sox organization before retiring in 2001 and served as head baseball coach at Berkshire High School from 2009 to 2016. He was inducted into the Cardinal Local School District's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017. His defense attorney stated Smetana has no prior criminal record and looks forward to his day in court.
The factual information above was sourced from wkyc.com as of June 30, 2026. The attorney commentary below is not specifically about the case reported above. Attorney commentary provided is information about these types of cases in the justice system.
When a youth sports coach is accused of sexually abusing a child, families may have significant civil legal options beyond the criminal process. Legal Herald editor Paul Amess spoke with Ohio sexual abuse attorney John Bey, Esq., about the civil legal avenues that may be available to families in cases involving alleged sexual abuse by a person in a position of athletic authority and community trust.
Paul Amess: John, when a former youth sports coach with deep community ties is accused of sexually abusing a child, what civil legal options may be available to the family?
John Bey, Esq.: Cases involving the alleged sexual abuse of a child by a person in a position of athletic and community authority raise serious civil questions. Families may have civil claims against the individual accused, and depending on the circumstances, potentially against any organization or institution that facilitated the accused's access to children. When someone's community standing and prior coaching roles are used to establish proximity to minors, it is worth examining whether any institution that provided that access failed in its duty to protect children.
Paul Amess: In cases where alleged grooming occurred over multiple encounters at community locations such as a church or park, does that raise additional institutional questions?
John Bey, Esq.: When alleged grooming takes place across multiple community settings, it raises important questions about whether any organization connected to those settings had knowledge of the accused's interactions with the alleged victim and failed to act. Civil cases examine not only what the individual allegedly did but whether any institution enabled or overlooked the alleged conduct. Families should speak with an experienced attorney to understand whether any such claims may apply to their specific situation.
Paul Amess: What would you say to a family in Ohio whose child was allegedly abused by someone in a position of community and athletic trust?
John Bey, Esq.: Please speak with an experienced attorney as soon as possible. Time limits apply to civil claims in Ohio, and early legal guidance gives families the clearest picture of their rights and options. An initial consultation is completely confidential and free of charge — no family should have to navigate this process alone.
If you or someone you love has been the victim of sexual abuse or assault by a coach, community figure, or any person in a position of trust in Ohio, you may have the right to pursue civil action and recover financial compensation. Contact The Legal Herald today to be connected with an experienced Ohio sexual abuse attorney for a free, no-obligation consultation.
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