Strangulation Charge Dropped Against Upper Moreland Baseball Coach

The most serious charges have been dropped against an Upper Moreland baseball coach who was accused of strangling a 12-year-old during a practice in Newtown Township, Bucks County last February.

Kenneth Irwin, 53, who had been charged with strangulation, disorderly conduct and harassment in connection with a Feb. 16 incident, pleaded guilty to two summary counts of disorderly conduct on Monday.

Irwin, the varsity baseball coach for Upper Moreland High School, was placed on administrative leave following the incident. His current employment status was not immediately available.

He was ordered to serve 180 days probation, the Intelligencer reported. Assistant District Attorney Megan Stricker told the newspaper that the charges were dropped after consideration of the evidence and Irwin's lack of criminal history.

According to Newtown Township Police, the investigation began after officers were called to the NAC sports training center 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. The event was not sponsored by the NAC; the facility had been rented out by an outside organization, a spokesperson there said at the time.

Irwin's lawyer reportedly said during court that the coach had grabbed the boy to stop him from throwing baseballs that could have injured others.