JACKSON TWP.: Police viewing videos showing Jackson High School basketball players in a locker room shower have identified 74 current or past students who could be potential victims of crimes involving a former coach and school aide.
Detectives now are waiting on U.S. postal inspectors to provide more video to be screened.
The identification process is part of a sweeping investigation involving resigned freshman basketball coach Scott Studer of Pin Oak Avenue Northwest. He also resigned as a building aide when arrested Nov. 14 after tapes showing Jackson basketball players nude in the showers were found during a search.
Studer remains in the Stark County Jail in lieu of a $2 million bond.
He worked as the front-desk greeter at the high school. He directed visitors and watched video monitors throughout the building.
Police Chief David Zink said Tuesday that the viewing is expected to resume today, adding that federal postal officials had indicated the material would be turned over to Jackson investigators today.
“Those trying to identify those in the videos have totaled 74 so far, and now we’re waiting for more,” Zink explained. He said about nine hours of video have been viewed.
He said he did not know how much more videotape there is to review.
Zink said all 74 families whose sons were identified have been notified of the findings. The images were recorded on VHS tapes or were saved on a computer, which postal inspectors seized Nov. 14, when they entered Studer’s house with Jackson officers using a search warrant while investigating an unrelated child pornography case.
Federal officials have not provided details of the Studer investigation, including whether he is alleged to have received or sent child pornography through the postal service.
Zink has said there is no indication Studer shared any of the video of Jackson players.
Also, no one has come forward and said the coach had sexual contact with any of his players.
George W. Davis can be reached at mediaman@sssnet.com.
