MINDEN - A preliminary hearing is set June 4 for former youth coach Benjamin Thomas Schuler, accused of trying to arrange sexual encounters with
13- and 14-year-old girls.
Schuler, 24, appeared briefly Wednesday in East Fork Justice Court with his lawyer, Tod Young. He was silent during the short proceeding.
Schuler, formerly employed as a Douglas County school district basketball coach, is charged with lewdness with a child under 14, luring a child with the intent to engage in sexual conduct and luring a child.
He is accused of inappropriately touching a 13-year-old girl through her clothing on Jan. 22; sending an e-mail to the same girl on Feb. 24; trying to entice her to come to his home to engage in sexual conduct; and asking a 14-year-old between Jan. 17 and Feb. 5 to sneak out of her home and "hang out" with him.
If convicted of the most serious offense, the penalty is up to life in prison. Schuler was released from custody on $25,000 cash bail.
Schuler was paid a stipend by the school district to coach basketball at Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School for three years, and was a school volunteer.
His contract expired at the end of the basketball season.