OREGON CITY, Ohio, March 4 (UPI) -- A youth basketball coach currently facing sexual abuse charges in Clackamas County, Ore., has a rape conviction in his past, records show.
The (Portland) Oregonian said Tuesday 1974 records show youth basketball coach Howard Avery was convicted on rape charges when he was 17. Details of the conviction were not available in the documents.
Avery's trial on sex abuse charges involving a 17-year-old girl is scheduled to begin April 17.
Avery, 51, has a history of facing allegations of improper conduct with underage girls while coaching high school players in Oregon.
One of Avery's former players accused him in 2003 of initiating a year-long sexual relationship with her when she was only 15. The unidentified player alleged she became pregnant as a result of the affair and underwent an abortion for which Avery paid.
Avery later admitted to the affair, but escaped criminal charges since the statute of limitations on the incident had elapsed.
The Oregonian said Avery has been incarcerated since his arrest Feb. 19 on charges stemming from an abuse incident last August.
