By Monica Pryts
SHARPSVILLE — The former head coach of Reynolds High School girls’ basketball team is under investigation for allegedly possessing child pornography.
Robert Chamberlain, of 621 S. Second St., Sharpsville, was served with a search warrant at 6:30 a.m. Thursday at home, according to a news release issued Monday by Cpl. Robert Erdely of the Pennsylvania State Police Computer Crime Unit.
State police troopers and Sharpsville patrolmen seized three computers and other storage media, said Erdely, who works out of Harrisburg.
Charges are pending against Chamberlain and could be filed in a few weeks, Erdely said.
Chamberlain, who did not return messages left on his home and cell phones, has since turned in his letter of resignation to school officials, said acting Superintendent Karen Ionta. She refused to comment or answer questions except to confirm he longer works for the school district and board members will act on his letter at their next meeting.
Police said they conducted an undercover investigation Dec. 6 on the Internet and found a computer that was sharing hundreds of files, some of which contained child pornography.
That computer’s Internet address was recorded, and the Internet service provider identified Chamberlain as the customer to whom that address was issued.
According to Herald files, Chamberlain worked for Reynolds as an assistant basketball coach in 1999 and 2000. He returned in 2004, when he was hired as head coach. His teams compiled a record of 83 wins and 59 losses over more than five seasons.
He previously coached basketball in Sharpsville Area School District.
An Internet search of his name shows he’s the director of Mercer County Consumer Network. The company’s Web site says it assists business owners who provide products and services in Mercer County, and offers services including consulting, marketing, graphic design and Web hosting.
Steve Waleff, athletic director for Reynolds Area School District, wouldn’t comment on the investigation or on Chamberlain’s coaching.
Messages left Monday for current and former players on the basketball team, school board President John Lowry and longtime board members Jeffrey Colson and Barry Nelson weren’t returned.
The board has a work session at 8 p.m. Jan. 13 and a regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 20, both in the conference room at the high school.
