PORT ANGELES — A former Sequim High School coach accused of an improper relationship with a student has asked the court to cut the number of charges for which he faces sentencing from five to one.
Jerry Jeff Pedersen, 29, a former volunteer girls basketball coach, pleaded guilty Aug. 21 to five counts of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes.
On Thursday, Clallam County Superior Court Judge George Wood scheduled a hearing to reconsider the number of counts at 9 a.m. Oct. 23.
The charges are Class C felonies. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of five years and a fine of up to $10,000.
They could be served concurrently.
Pedersen also would be required to register as a sex offender.
According to a Sequim police investigation that spanned March 1-23, Pedersen and the girl, who was then 15, exchanged text messages and nude pictures over their cellphones daily.
Coached girl
Police say Pedersen had a “boyfriend and girlfriend” relationship with the player he coached last season.
Pedersen now is forbidden from having contact with girls younger than 18 unless they are supervised by adults aware of the charges.
He is also ordered to stay away from schools, particularly Sequim High, from which he graduated in 2004.
Pedersen coached for the team as an unpaid volunteer assistant to head coach Evan Still.
Pedersen was arrested April 1 and released the next day. County prosecutors filed charges April 10.
He initially pleaded not guilty to the charges in May.
He has no prior conviction for sexual offenses.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
