Coach Charged With Strangling 12-Year-Old During Baseball Practice In Newtown: Police

A local coach has been charged with strangling a 12-year-old during a baseball training event last month in Newtown Township, police say.

Kenneth Irwin, 52, is charged with strangulation, disorderly conduct and harassment in connection with a Feb. 16 incident at the NAC Sports Training Center.

Irwin is the varsity baseball coach for Upper Moreland High School. He has also coached for Tri-Township, which is based in Wrightstown, Patch records show. Upper Moreland School District Superintendent Robert J. Milrod told Patch that Irwin is now on administrative leave

According to Newtown Township Police, officers were called to Pheasant Run for the report of an assault. When police arrived, the victim's parent told officers that Irwin, a Hatboro resident, had assaulted her 12-year-old during a baseball training event..

Irwin's preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 12, court records show.

A spokesperson with the Newtown Athletic Club confirmed it happened at the NAC Sports Training Center, but the facility was being rented by an outside organization at the time and Irwin has no affiliation with the training center or the club.

"We dealt swiftly and according with this situation by reporting this to the police as soon as it came to our attention. We are saddened by this incident and are in complete cooperation with the police in order to come to a proper resolution," the NAC statement said.

The extent of the victim's injuries was not provided.