Prosecutor highlights past complaints at coach's sentencing

This undated photo provided by the Greene County Sheriff's Office in Springfield, Mo., shows Ronnie White. White, a former high school basketball coach who's pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a teenager in the 1990s was allowed to continue teaching despite multiple complaints of inappropriate behavior. White's past conduct was discussed as he was sentenced Monday, Aug. 22, 2016, to seven years in prison. Under the sentence, the former Parkview High School basketball coach could serve far less time. That's because he'll be placed in a sexual offender assessment unit for 120 days and could be released on probation afterward.
This undated photo provided by the Greene County Sheriff's Office in Springfield, Mo., shows Ronnie White. White, a former high school basketball coach who's pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a teenager in the 1990s was allowed to continue teaching despite multiple complaints of inappropriate behavior. White's past conduct was discussed as he was sentenced Monday, Aug. 22, 2016, to seven years in prison. Under the sentence, the former Parkview High School basketball coach could serve far less time. That's because he'll be placed in a sexual offender assessment unit for 120 days and could be released on probation afterward.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) - A prosecutor alleges that a former high school basketball coach who's pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a teenager in the 1990s was allowed to continue teaching despite multiple complaints of inappropriate behavior.

Ronnie White's past conduct was discussed as he was sentenced Monday to seven years in prison, the Springfield News-Leader (http://sgfnow.co/2bNmWyc ) reports. Under the sentence, the former Parkview High School basketball coach could serve far less time. That's because he'll be placed in a sexual offender assessment unit for 120 days and could be released on probation afterward.

Greene County assistant prosecutor Nathan Chapman says at least four complaints were made about White's behavior and that he was told to stop physically touching students at one point.

According to Chapman, school records show a different girl complained that White, 69, was behaving inappropriately in 1993 and she was made to take a polygraph test by school administrators. Chapman said other complaints about White were made in 2002, 2007 and 2008.

White's attorney, Dee Wampler, said the complaints about White's alleged behavior with other students were irrelevant to Monday's sentencing hearing. White denies he behaved inappropriately.

White was the school's basketball coach from 1984 until 1995. White taught physical education, health, driver's education and other subjects at six different Springfield public schools before retiring in 2010.

A district spokeswoman says she can't comment because personnel files aren't public.