Teh One Who Knocks
06-02-2011, 02:59 PM
by Steve McConnell - The Scranton Staff-Tribune (staff writer)
A Lakeland High School girls soccer coach is accused of repeatedly exposing his genitalia and fondling himself in front of employees at a Dickson City fast food restaurant, borough police said.
Joseph Kovaleski, 61, of Scott Twp., was charged Sunday with two counts of indecent exposure, one count of open lewdness and three counts of disorderly conduct.
According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by borough police Officer Scott Benzeleski, Mr. Kovaleski, 904 Justus Blvd., exposed himself at the Burger King on Business Route 6. An employee told police the behavior had been going on for several years.
In a telephone interview with The Times-Tribune, Mr. Kovaleski denied the allegations and questioned why borough police relied on the account of one witness.
"This is going to ruin my life," said Mr. Kovaleski, who last fall coached the Lady Chiefs to an undefeated, 12-0-1, regular season and captured the District 2 Class A girls soccer title.
"I wouldn't put myself in that kind of situation," he said. "Maybe I scratched (myself) or something like that."
Mr. Kovaleski was named The Times-Tribune Girls Soccer Coach of the Year in 2010. It was his ninth season as coach.
According to the affidavit:
A restaurant employee contacted borough police several weeks ago with concerns about Mr. Kovaleski. She told police Mr. Kovaleski stopped there a few times a week around 7 a.m., pulled out his genitalia and would "continuously touch it" while seated at a booth and facing employees who were working behind the restaurant's counter.
The employee called police at about 8:30 a.m. Sunday to report that he was in the restaurant touching himself.
When approached by police, Mr. Kovaleski told them he does not wear underwear and because of that his genitals "could fall out."
"He stated that Burger King isn't a public place and that his genitals get itchy and he sometimes has to scratch them," the affidavit said.
Contacted by The Times-Tribune, Lakeland school board President John Brennan and athletic director Phil Tochelli both said they were not aware of the allegations.
Superintendent Margaret Billings-Jones, Ed.D., said she had been notified of the charges. The district will take appropriate action "per school code," Dr. Billings-Jones said, but declined to elaborate, calling it a "personnel matter." The district will make "sure our girls are not in any situation," she added.
Mr. Kovaleski also is a employed by the district as a substitute janitor, she said.
Mr. Kovaleski was to be served his charges by mail, police said. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 29.
A Lakeland High School girls soccer coach is accused of repeatedly exposing his genitalia and fondling himself in front of employees at a Dickson City fast food restaurant, borough police said.
Joseph Kovaleski, 61, of Scott Twp., was charged Sunday with two counts of indecent exposure, one count of open lewdness and three counts of disorderly conduct.
According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by borough police Officer Scott Benzeleski, Mr. Kovaleski, 904 Justus Blvd., exposed himself at the Burger King on Business Route 6. An employee told police the behavior had been going on for several years.
In a telephone interview with The Times-Tribune, Mr. Kovaleski denied the allegations and questioned why borough police relied on the account of one witness.
"This is going to ruin my life," said Mr. Kovaleski, who last fall coached the Lady Chiefs to an undefeated, 12-0-1, regular season and captured the District 2 Class A girls soccer title.
"I wouldn't put myself in that kind of situation," he said. "Maybe I scratched (myself) or something like that."
Mr. Kovaleski was named The Times-Tribune Girls Soccer Coach of the Year in 2010. It was his ninth season as coach.
According to the affidavit:
A restaurant employee contacted borough police several weeks ago with concerns about Mr. Kovaleski. She told police Mr. Kovaleski stopped there a few times a week around 7 a.m., pulled out his genitalia and would "continuously touch it" while seated at a booth and facing employees who were working behind the restaurant's counter.
The employee called police at about 8:30 a.m. Sunday to report that he was in the restaurant touching himself.
When approached by police, Mr. Kovaleski told them he does not wear underwear and because of that his genitals "could fall out."
"He stated that Burger King isn't a public place and that his genitals get itchy and he sometimes has to scratch them," the affidavit said.
Contacted by The Times-Tribune, Lakeland school board President John Brennan and athletic director Phil Tochelli both said they were not aware of the allegations.
Superintendent Margaret Billings-Jones, Ed.D., said she had been notified of the charges. The district will take appropriate action "per school code," Dr. Billings-Jones said, but declined to elaborate, calling it a "personnel matter." The district will make "sure our girls are not in any situation," she added.
Mr. Kovaleski also is a employed by the district as a substitute janitor, she said.
Mr. Kovaleski was to be served his charges by mail, police said. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 29.