MANSFIELD — Marc Wilson, a former tennis, wrestling and football coach at Clear Fork, has been sentenced to eight years in prison.
Wilson pleaded guilty Wednesday to a series of charges including sexual battery and sexual misconduct with a minor. He is not eligible for early release.
The charges stem from “an inappropriate sexual relationship with a student also engaged with sports,” Assistant Prosecutor Brandon Pigg said during December’s indictments.
A victim spoke before judge James Deweese handed down his sentence.
“These past two years has been the most difficult journey I believe I’ll face,” the male victim said. “I’ve spent countless nights trying to discern God’s will for the manipulation and control brought on by you.”
According to Richland County prosecutor Olivia Boyer, the sexual relationship began in 2009 when the victim was 13 years old. The relationship ended upon his graduation from Clear Fork High School in 2015.
“I was able to be freed and to close that chapter of my life. The damage you have caused me will always be apart of who I am, but it will also be apart of God’s redemptive story,” the victim read from his statement.
Boyer then read letters Wilson sent to his victim.
“This incident is due to his position of authority. He was trusted by the victim’s mother. The victim in this case was vulnerable; he had moved multiple times and he only sought stability and he thought he had found it in the defendant. That’s why we are here,” Boyer said.
She read the letter:
“I told you that if it were ever exposed as to how we were living, I would lose everything. I have lost my coaching job, my home, my family, wife. I only get to see my children a few hours a day. I told you these things would happen,” the letter read. “I listened to you. I listened to your encouragement to hate my wife and let you take advantage of me year after year.”
Boyer said the letters show little remorse from Wilson and help prove how the defendant continuously tried to manipulate the victim.
“This is the letter the defendant writing a letter to the victim whom he engaged in a sexual relationship at 13,” Boyer said to DeWeese. “That it was the victim who promised to fix and make everything better.”
Wilson wrote a second letter telling the victim he thought he deserved a second chance.
“These accusations continue to make me lose everything… I’m sorry, but I just don’t think this is fair,” Boyer read. “I gave you my life…”
DeWeese spoke to Wilson about his “indefensible actions.”
“Mr. Wilson, there is only one thing that brings you here today, and that’s your action. It’s a repressible thing when a teacher uses a student for sexual gratification. To hear you blame this victim and say it’s his fault. It was your choice; make no mistake about that,” DeWeese said. “This is a very serious offense that you’ve done. The victim suffered serious psychological and physical harm.
“Teachers and coaches are mandatory reporters of (sexual) things. Your occupation facilitated these types of events. So those are very serious offenses.”
Following the sentence, Boyer said she and the Prosecutors office commends when victims speak up to keep offenders out of the public.
“I’m very fortunate to work with Prosecutor (Gary) Bishop who strongly encourages victims to come forward. That’s what happened in this case,” Boyer said. “The victim came forward, we were able to investigate with the Richland County Sheriff’s Office and he was able to be held accountable and taken out of the school system.”
