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	High School Baseball Coach Charged with Endangering Child By Sarah Bloomquist 6 ABC September 20, 2011 http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/crime&id=8361579 September 20, 2011 (WPVI) -- Late Tuesday, Action News caught up with baseball coach Louis Spadaccini in South Philadelphia. However, the coach was not interested in speaking with us about his arrest and charges against him involving a 14-year-old male student during a weekend encounter that allegedly went well beyond baseball practice. "The coach, this adult male, provides beer and alcohol to this young male," Philadelphia Police Captain John Darby said during a Tuesday afternoon news conference. Authorities say the sordid affair took place in a hotel room at the Holiday Inn on Packer Avenue late Sunday. Authorities say the 37-year-old Neumann-Goretti coach had picked up one of his 14-year-old baseball players near the boy's South Philadelphia home under the guise that they were going to watch some sports on TV. Authorities say over the course of several hours, Spadaccini gave the boy beer, alcohol and a narcotic prescription drug that left him in a drunken stupor. The boy's parents were aware he was with the coach, but assumed they were meeting for baseball reasons. After several hours, they became very concerned and started making phone calls. Eventually, he was taken home to his worried parents. "The parents observed that their son is in a state that would require medical attention, that he's very intoxicated," Darby said. The teen was taken to Methodist Hospital then moved to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia where he was treated and released. Authorities say there was no sign of sexual abuse. Spadaccini has been charged with corrupting the morals of a minor, reckless endangerment, simple assault, luring and furnishing alcohol to a minor. Police are concerned this is not the first time the coach has done something like this and want to know if the 14-year-old is the only victim. "We have activity here that would certainly indicate the possibility, the possibility, that this has occurred in the past. It's dangerous activity and we obviously want anyone that may have had any type of similar situation, whether that be juvenile or parents, to give us a call at Special Victims Unit, and, as you know, we will pursue that," Darby said. Spadaccini, a respected coach who was named this year's Catholic League Coach of the Year, shocked many at Neumann-Goretti High School. He has been the coach of at the school for the past five years and took the team to its first Catholic League Championship in 49 years. He is a graduate of Neumann-Goretti himself. "Coach Lou was an admired coach and an outstanding member of our community and the Neumann-Goretti family; we're really sad and shocked," Neumann-Goretti President John Murawski said. Murawski says the coach underwent background checks. Counselors will be at the school tomorrow. "We will also work with the school in providing support to students, to team members, to the family, and anyone who has been affected by this," Leslie Davila of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia said. Police say it is possible that there was another person in the hotel room. Anyone with information should contact Special Victims Unit at 215-685-3263. Spadaccini was released from jail after posting $15,000 bail. The coach has been placed on administrative leave by the Archdiocese as the investigation moves forward.
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