(Updated: 02-05-11)
Ex-coach also sentenced for theft and forgery.
A Pemberville man will be spending two years in prison for sexual battery.
Steven Ziegler, age 39, appeared before Wood County Common Pleas Court Judge Alan Mayberry Friday
morning.
He was originally indicted for rape for activities which occurred from March through December 2004. On
Aug. 26, 2010, he pleaded guilty to an amended charge of sexual battery.
The self-described "alleged victim" in the case, Kelly VanWormer, addressed the court on his
behalf. She has maintained there was no rape, or any sexual offense involved. "I have never been a
victim," VanWormer said. She said she has been in a relationship with Ziegler for over 17 years and
they are jointly raising their 9-year-old son.
"I have never been treated as a victim by the prosecution," VanWormer added.
Heather Baker, the assistant Wood County prosecutor for the case, disagreed.
Baker noted hours the victim spent in her office, along with journal entries and a video of the
activities which led to the charges. Baker said VanWormer was "begging for help" prior to the
charges being filed.
Baker also spoke about the actions on the videotape in which VanWormer is said to be intoxicated and was
asking repeatedly for the defendant to stop.
During the pre-sentence investigation for that case, it was discovered Ziegler had been drawing
compensation checks from Brush Wellman fraudulently following his resignation from Eastwood Schools on
Aug. 15, 2009 through Sept. 3, 2010.
As part of an agreement with the Elmore plant, Ziegler was receiving a paycheck for his beryllium
disease, contracted as an employee of Brush Wellman. He was to continue to be paid based on his
performing community service. He served as an assistant wrestling coach at Eastwood.
Following his resignation, he continued with some volunteer service with the Biddy wrestling program, but
continued to submit 40-hour service timecards for more than a year.
In a separate case Friday, Ziegler entered guilty pleas to theft and one count of forgery. Through a plea
agreement, a second forgery charge was dismissed.
Mayberry ordered 18 months in prison on the theft charge and 12 months on the forgery charge, but
suspended both based on Ziegler following all the guidelines of his community control sanctions. The
judge ordered community control for a five-year period.
As part of the sentence on the second case, he was ordered to pay restitution in the amount not to exceed
nearly $52,400. Ziegler’s attorney, Adrian Cimerman, told the court he had check from Ziegler for more
than $10,750, which will be deposited as an initial payment towards the restitution.
Cimerman asked the judge for only community control sanctions. Baker requested six years in prison – four
on the sexual battery charge and an addition two years on the theft and forgery case.
"He has no regard to the law." Baker said of the defendant.
Cimerman noted the countless letters submitted on behalf of his client.
Because of the conviction, Ziegler must also register as a Tier III sexual offender.
When given a chance to speak, Ziegler attempted to explain, despite his resignation, he was still
coaching some of the younger "Biddy" wrestlers. The judge interrupted, asking again if he
disputed the facts as presented and stipulated. He said he and VanWormer are "soul mates and best
friends." Ziegler said the two are attending a counseling program with Lutheran Social Services
"to better our lives."
In issuing his sentence Mayberry told Ziegler after reviewing the video there was "no question in
the court’s mind" that what was seen on that tape defined the sexual battery conviction.
"The victim was crying and repeatedly telling you to stop," Mayberry said.
Similar to Baker, Mayberry voiced his lack of seeing "genuine remorse for your actions, despite what
is clearly shown in the video."
The judge added, "What is most bothersome to the court is you don’t see anything wrong with your
actions."
But Mayberry said he would "leave an open door" for Ziegler. "This offers the best
opportunity for the community to be protected, the family to be protected and you to be a changed
individual – which I don’t see today."
Deputies from the Wood County Sheriff’s Office took Ziegler into custody immediately.