H-H Cross Country Coach Allegedly Supplied Alcohol to Student

A girls cross country coach has been charged in conjunction with allegations that he furnished alcoholic beverages to a 17-year-old student.

William Ryan Lichtner, 24, of Ambler, was arrested Wednesday and charged with corruption of minors and furnishing liquor to minors. 

Lichtner, while employed as the high school's cross country coach, is alleged to have provided a number of alcoholic beverages to a 17-year-old female student at Hatboro-Horsham High School, according to authorities. At the time of the offense, Lichtner had served as the Hatboro-Horsham cross country coach during the fall season for the past two years. 

An investigation into Lichtner's alleged actions got underway after the student disclosed to her school guidance counselor on May 24 that Lichtner, her cross-country coach, had been supplying her with alcoholic beverages. Hatboro-Horsham School District administrators promptly contacted the to begin a formal investigation into the matter.

Through subsequent investigations, Horsham Police Detective Robert Waeltz determined that Lichtner had supplied alcohol to the student on at least eight occasions over the past six months. 

Hatboro-Horsham School District, in a statement released Wednesday afternoon, said that "none of these incidents resulting in these charges occurred during school hours or within school property."

In addition to Lichtner's role as the cross country coach, he also worked during the district’s Red and Black activities and as a timer at various track meets. 

Prior to employment with Hatboro-Horsham, Lichtner went through the required background checks for criminal record and child abuse history clearances, commonly known as Act 34 and Act 151, according to the district. Those background checks gave no indication of any previous criminal behavior. The girls cross country season, a fall sport, was not in session during the time of the alleged incidents and Lichtner was not functioning in a coaching capacity for the school district, according to the statement. 

“I was troubled by the actions of this adult and disheartened by this incident because the district continuously strives to provide its students with a safe educational atmosphere,” Superintendent of Schools Curtis Griffin said in the statement. “This situation was resolved quickly because the student involved confided in her guidance counselor, which allowed the district to take appropriate action.”

The district will continue to work closely with the Horsham Township Police Department and the Montgomery County District Attorney’s office until the investigation is complete.

Lichtner was arraigned on Wednesday before Magisterial District Judge Harry Nesbitt, III, and bail was set at $10,000 unsecured. He will remain free on unsecured bail pending resolution of the charges. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 27 at 10:30 a.m. before Nesbitt.