photo by: Robert A. DeFrank

Former Union Local School District coach Joby Barr, right, appears with attorney Adam Myser in Belmont County Common Pleas Court on Friday to plead no contest to sexual battery of a student.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — A former Union Local School District basketball coach is facing a prison sentence in two weeks after pleading no contest to the sexual battery of a student.

Joby Barr, 31, of 205 Church St., Morristown appeared Friday morning before Belmont County Common Pleas Judge John Vavra and entered the plea. In a no contest plea, the defendant does not admit guilt but acknowledges there is sufficient evidence for a guilty verdict.

Vavra found him guilty and set Barr’s sentencing hearing for May 9. A pre-sentence investigation and victim impact statement were also ordered.

Barr will be designated a Tier 3 sex offender and, after release, will be required to register his address every 90 days for life at the sheriff’s office of his county of residence.

Barr reserved the right to appeal.

Barr had been scheduled to go to trial next week and had faced four charges of sexual battery and a possible 20-year sentence altogether. Belmont County Prosecutor Kevin Flanagan moved to merge and dismiss three counts when Barr made his plea. He is subject to a sentence range of 18 to 30 months according to the plea agreement, and each side will argue the range during the May 9 hearing.

Flanagan said the offenses occurred between Jan. 1 and May 31, 2021, prior to the end of the school year when Barr was still under contract with Union Local and the victim was attending school.

“Under Ohio law, this type of charge does not require a prison sentence,” Vavra said to Barr. “Based on the agreement, you’re not going to be eligible for a community control sentence because we’re already talking about a prison sentence being for sure, it’s just how long.”

Barr’s attorney, Adam Myser, asked Vavra to continue Barr’s bond until sentencing.

“The court has had no issues with the defendant being present for all of his hearings,” Myser said. “We have a situation where both parties have reserved the opportunity to make arguments to the court, and I would like the defendant to be able to assist in that defense … by way of being out on bond the next two weeks.”

Flanagan said his office is not seeking to have Barr incarcerated until sentencing, but added he will make another argument during the May 9 hearing.

“I envision an appellate bond request from the defense, which the state will vehemently oppose. I do plan to ask that the defendant be incarcerated at the time of sentence,” Flanagan said.

Vavra revoked Barr’s bond. Barr was taken into custody to await sentencing.

The victim and her family members were present Friday but did not speak. Jersey, the courthouse therapy dog, was also in court to offer support if needed.

In the interest of protecting the victim’s identity, Flanagan would give no further information about the circumstances of the alleged offense. Flanagan had said the charge of sexual battery is applicable due to the authority Barr had over the victim as an employee of the district where she attended school.