Prosecutor highlights past complaints at coach's sentencing

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A prosecutor alleges 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 reported. 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 said at least four complaints were made about White's behavior, and he was told to stop physically touching students at one point.

According to Chapman, school records show a different girl complained 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 Springfield public schools before retiring in 2010.

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

Information from: Springfield News-Leader, http://www.news-leader.com