Former Mabton coach pleads guilty to sex charges

YAKIMA, Wash. -- A former Mabton High School girls basketball coach pleaded guilty Tuesday to having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old player on his team.

Michael Roettger, 32, was taken into custody at the Yakima County jail after entering the guilty plea in Superior Court to a charge of sexual misconduct with a minor. He admitted to having a sexual relationship with the girl during the 2007-08 basketball season.

Roettger was arrested in October and had originally entered a plea of not guilty.

In January of last year, the Mabton School District conducted an investigation of possible inappropriate involvement with a student, but school officials said Roettger was cleared of any wrongdoing at the time.

However, because of the investigation, he did not apply for renewal of his coaching contract after the basketball season ended in February 2008. He had coached the girls team for four seasons.

Roettger, who works as a foreman for a Lower Valley farm, was never a teacher in the Mabton School District.

District officials said law enforcement investigators received new information in September about Roettger’s relationship with the victim, leading to his arrest.

Sentencing is tentatively scheduled for April 8, pending completion of a presentence investigation.

Since Roettger has no previous felony convictions, the standard sentencing range for his crime is six to 12 months. He will have to register as a sex offender when he is released from jail.

The Yakima County Prosecutor’s Office agreed to recommend a six-month sentence in exchange for Roettger’s guilty plea.