Special Olympics coach charged with raping disabled athlete

READING, Pa. (AP) — A former coach for a county Special Olympics soccer team is going to trial on charges of raping a player with intellectual disabilities.

The Reading Eagle reports Michael Sheldon was ordered held without bail after a preliminary hearing Thursday.

He was charged in March with assaulting the 24-year-old man at Sheldon’s apartment July 15.

The victim told investigators that he rebuffed Sheldon’s advances and that Sheldon sexually assaulted him after he fell asleep.

Police say the 28-year-old Sheldon threatened to take away the victim’s Special Olympics involvement after the man reported the assault.

A spokeswoman with the Special Olympics of Berks County says Sheldon was suspended after he was charged.

A call seeking comment from Sheldon’s public defender wasn’t returned.

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Information from: Reading Eagle, http://www.readingeagle.com/