PIKE COUNTY, Ohio — The 53-year-old Ross County man placed on administrative leave from his assistant coaching position with the Huntington Huntsmen girls’ softball team amid rape allegations involving a 17-year-old female student has been identified as Brian Felts of Beaver, Ohio.
Felts took his own life on Thursday in Pike County. His body was taken to a local funeral home where arrangements are pending.
Felts previously coached at Eastern Local Schools in Pike County, where he earned coaching stipends of a little more than $1,000, and worked as a sergeant and counselor at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville full-time. He also operated a side business involving high-end cars.
According to sources familiar with the investigation and details from his social media, Felts had posted numerous photographs and videos of himself and the alleged victim on his Facebook page. These included images of the pair together in various vehicles, accompanied by affectionate “love language” captions and messaging — such as references to finding the love of his life and that the teen brought his spark back — that some observers could classify as disturbing or inappropriate.
The Ross County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate the allegations of the sexual assault. A report was taken late Saturday night in Huntington Township after the 17-year-old student reported being raped by the man who coached her. The alleged assault reportedly occurred at a local business near Huntington High School in Ross County. On Monday, the teenager was seen crying at school and was released to go home; she was observed with a large contusion on her head that investigators believe resulted from force used during the incident.
No charges had been filed against Felts prior to his death as the case remained active. Neither Huntington Local Schools nor the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction has released statements about his employment status, though school staff confirmed he was placed on administrative leave from his coaching role before he killed himself. The sheriff’s office has not released the report or issued any public statement, and it remains unclear whether security cameras at the business captured any part of the alleged incident.
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If you or a loved one are a victim of sexual assault, anonymous support is available by calling (800) 656-HOPE (4673).