LAWRENCE, Indiana, September 9. CHRIS Wheat, a former assistant swim coach at Lawrence North High School and for the Lawrence Swim Team in Indiana, was sentenced to 10 years for an inappropriate relationship with a 14-year-old swimmer according to various news reports out of Indiana.
Wheat was originally sentenced to a pair of 15-year sentences as well as a six-year sentence for his conviction on three felony counts. The judge, however, elected to suspend part of his sentences and reduce the final total to 10 years.
"It was, you know, let's get together for a sleepover to try to make more sexual misconduct acts happen. It was very emotional," swim parent Sarah Christy told WXIN in Indianapolis after the sentencing hearing on Wednesday.
Wheat has already been banned for life by USA Swimming because of this sexual misconduct. The Lawrence Swim Team hired Mike Parratto to replace Wheat in August.
Wheat's victim will be filing a civil lawsuit.