WEST CHESTER, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A 31-year-old man is accused of sexually abusing three children while acting as their private basketball coach and trainer.
Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan says 31-year-old Zachary Ray preyed on child victims whose families hired him to give private basketball coaching and instruction.
According to a criminal complaint, Ray is accused of sexually assaulting three girls between the ages of 10 and 16 while offering private basketball training, from 2014 through 2023.
Each girl says Ray would remove their clothing and touch them inappropriately, telling them he was doing a “core check.” They also say he used his phone to take pictures and record videos of them. They say the assaults happened at schools, in parks and at the victims’ homes in Chester and Delaware counties.
Ray has multiple addresses listed on court documents, one in Wynnewood and another in Philadelphia. He is charged in Chester County with more than 200 counts, including aggravated indecent assault, unlawful contact with a minor and child pornography. He is also facing similar charges in Philadelphia.
The DA’s office says law enforcement believes there may be more unidentified victims. When police searched Ray’s phone, they found images of one of the teens along with others who have not been identified, according to the complaint.
"We believe there are more victims out there,” Ryan said. “He worked with children for almost a decade. Ray served as the head girls varsity coach at Bishop Shanahan in Downingtown from 2017 to 2019. He also coached at least four different basketball summer leagues with the Amateur Athletic Union, AAU, which is a travel basketball league in Berks, Philadelphia, Chester and Delaware counties from 2016 to 2023."
A letter from Bishop Shanahan High School went out Tuesday to assure parents and guardians that the protection of students is their primary concern.
“Prior to beginning seasonal employment with our school, criminal record checks and child abuse clearances were obtained, and Mr. Ray also participated in the safe environment training program,” the letter stated.
The letter directs parents and guardians to resources and information about youth protection and advises anyone with information pertinent to the investigation to contact your local law enforcement or the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Office of Investigations at 1-888-930-9010.