A former Mentor schools employee and sports coach who pleaded guilty to sexual battery charges in March has been sentenced to five years in prison.
Zachary Martin, 29, of Mentor-on-the-Lake, was sentenced on Wednesday for two felony sexual battery charges in Lake County Common Pleas Court.
In 2015, Martin started working in the Mentor City School District as a computer technician in the IT department, according to the district. He was also an assistant sports coach. News 5 is not listing the sport Martin coached to help protect the victim's identity. Martin was placed on leave on July 2, 2017. The incidents happened the month before he was put on leave.
The victim's mother told the court during Martin's sentencing that her daughter has been battling mental health issues for years and has worked with therapists and counselors. She told the court the progress her daughter made was undone because of Martin's actions, according to The News-Herald.
At his sentencing hearing, The News-Herald reported that Martin apologized to the victim and her family, the athletes and to his family.
After his release from prison, Martin will have five years of post-release control and must register as a Tier III sex offender.
