WILKES-BARRE — UPDATE: 8:43PM A jury has found Stephen Stahl, a former wrestling coach, guilty of corruption of minors.
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A former wrestling coach accused of having a sexual affair with a 16-year-old student took the witness stand Friday to say it never happened.
But some other testimony in court late Friday afternoon, casts doubt on his claims.
For the first time since this trial started, a witness testified that she heard more than rumors and saw more than a suggestive touch between Stephen Stahl and his accuser.
That witness testified that she actually saw Stahl kiss the accuser in the basement of Coughlin High School in Wilkes-Barre in 2004.
The accuser was a 16-year-old student at the time.
Two other witnesses also testified Friday afternoon. They say the accuser told them about her relationship with Stahl 10 years ago while it was going on.
When one of those witnesses was asked why she didn’t say something then she said, “I couldn’t tell. I was a kid myself and my best friend asked me to keep a secret.”
Earlier, Stahl testified in his own defense He said of the first encounter the accuser claims happened on March 19th, 2004, “No, that was impossible. I was at a viewing of my best childhood friend.”
The defense then provided evidence of a sign-in book at the funeral.
At one point, the prosecutor asked Stahl, “How many of your friends at Coughlin are you willing to take down in order to fool this jury?”
“Zero,” Stalh responded.
The last question the prosecution asked Stahl before a break was why the victim would make up these accusations.
He responded, “That’s a million-dollar question.”
Closing arguments got underway late Friday afternoon.
