Coach Pleads Guilty to Giving Alcohol to Minor

An Ambler man and former Hatboro-Horsham High School girls cross country coach will serve two years of probation for furnishing alcohol to a minor on "at least eight occasions" last school year. 

William Ryan Lichtner, 24, who had coached the high school's girls cross country team for two years, pleaded guilty on Monday to a corruption of minors charge, as well as a charge of selling/furnishing alcohol to minors charge. In exchange for Lichtner's plea, the prosecutor downgraded the charges to misdemeanor offenses.

Authorities had said .

Montgomery County Judge Gary S. Silow ordered Lichtner to serve 48 hours of community service and serve two concurrent one-year probation sentences. 

"Don't sell liquor to kids," Silow said to Lichtner. "That's a stupid thing."

The teen, who made the allegations against Lichtner, notified the high school’s guidance counselor on May 24, according to authorities. The Horsham Township Police began an investigation that day. The girl, whose name has been withheld by authorities, said Lichtner gave her a ride home during the early morning hours of May 24 after she snuck out of her parent’s home and went to a friend’s house. During the ride, the girl claimed that Lichtner “said some inappropriate things to her,” according to court documents.

During her interview later that day with Horsham Township Police, the teen was said to have shown several text messages that Lichtner had allegedly sent to her.

On the evening of May 24, the girl agreed to wear a wire while talking to Lichtner on the telephone. During the 21-minute call, conversation included “the fact that she owed him money for alcohol that he provided,” according to the affidavit of probable cause.

In addition to Lichtner's role as cross country coach, he also worked during the district’s Red and Black activities and as a timer at various track meets. Prior to coaching, Lichtner was a former all-conference runner for Hatboro-Horsham. 

Hatboro-Horsham School District officials said previously that he passed the required background checks for criminal record and child abuse history clearances, commonly known as Act 34 and Act 151.