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Assistant field hockey coach John Kovach arrested

Possession of child pornography

By Pete Lorenz

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Published: Monday, March 16, 2009

Updated: Monday, March 16, 2009

Assistant field hockey coach John Kovach was arrested Monday for possession of child pornography, according to a Baltimore County Police report.

Kovach, 52, engaged in conversation with a retired detective from Los Angeles who posed as a 13-year-old girl in late February. This sparked an investigation of Kovach, which included a search of his home that resulted in the discovery of multiple samples of child pornography as well as a handgun that was accessible to a minor who lived at the residence.

Kovach had served as an assistant coach at Towson for six seasons and has coached youth programs for many years. He ran the highly regarded Mater Amoris Ocelots club team where he coached with Tigers’ star Christina Boarman when she was in high school. His profile has been removed from the Towson Tigers Web site.

Kovach began the Ocelots under-12 co-ed field hockey program, which operates out of the Mater Amoris Montessori School in Ashton, Md., 10 years ago. Graduates of the program have gone on to play for schools such as Duke, Northwestern and Stanford.

Kovach also spent time as an assistant coach for the University of Virginia during one of the team’s most successful runs. The Cavaliers reached the Final Four four times with Kovach aboard, and achieved their first ever No. 1 ranking in the national polls.

The police report stated that Kovach was arrested at Mater Amoris, and that he admitted afterward to his preference of viewing young girls between the ages of 9 and 13. He has apparently used several AOL Instant Messenger screen names in the past in attempt to converse with young girls on the Internet.

With Kovach on staff, the Tigers made their second straight conference tournament appearance this fall losing to Old Dominion, 5-1, in the first round.

Kovach is being held at the Baltimore County Detention Center on $250,000 bond.

Comments

104 comments
former student
Tue Oct 20 2009 18:03
uhhhh I know what I know. Coach may not be "dangerous" to anyone, but he is still the MEANEST person I have ever met. He still ruined my childhood schooling, and I feel he should suffer in jail.
a true primary source
Fri Oct 16 2009 19:49
well if you did some research you yourself would know that no they dont get healed 100 percent however, those with terrible illnesses including cancer do not get healed 100 percent there is a slight chance it could happen again, and there is no cure to cancer nor is there a cure to pedophilia however, people can change if you read the Bible or believe in some form of higher being mine being God, you should know this, miracles do happen it has been proven that some things are miraculous and maybe did you ever think that he is one of those few cases that is a miracle but wait, how would you know when you dont even talk or see him...therefore it is judge-mental and negative thinking to think and say that he will never change because not only does that give no hope, but it also negates the proven research that has been done on these such things as well as other situations...what you are saying is a stereotype and a statement that has been culturally spread meaning it is not 100 percent true i would know, I study psychology and sociology.
Your name
Fri Oct 16 2009 19:26
pedophiles never change, they just change their location. Right now, he's on lockdown and does not have access to the internet. Let's see what happens when this case is over. I wish this never happened either, but it did. John Kovach is a good man, and no, I don't wish to crucify him, BUT, no matter how good the man is or his intentions, please understand that when a person is a pedophile, there is no change in that kind of behavior, no matter how much counseling he may receive. It is a known fact that pedophiles do not change their behavior, they just change their location and acquaintences. Do some reasearch and look it up for yourself.
a true primary source
Fri Oct 16 2009 14:17
ok so for everyone who keeps on writing these hate messages...chillax ok...if u hated MA so damn much then why didnt you all move your asses and get out better yet why didnt your parents be parents and pull you out there are plenty of other schools for you to go to nobody twisted your arms to stay...furthermore if he "allegedly" wiped sweat on you face what the HELL did your parents do about it obviously nothing because you stayed there so yet again this goes back on you, you all stayed at MA despite the fact that you were unhappy...and to the statement that coach was always bad everyone knew it...please SHUT UP okay everyone is human and makes mistakes what are we going to do nail him to the cross like Christ and scorn him until he dies be human and realize that maybe he was sick or distraught and that maybe now he is a much better person someone who would never ever dream of doing a thing like that or talk like that to anyone, did any of you "haters" every think that maybe he has changed seen himself, his true self in the mirror and has become and true good person and is not the man you knew him to be years ago, did any of you ever stop to think about that instead of your hate filled, scorn stuffed, thoughts...trust me, i would know take it from the true primary source.
former student
Mon Oct 12 2009 13:10
to the kid who got sweat wiped on your face, HAHAHAHAHAHA. I am so with you! I HATED coach. God he was a miserable piece of crap. To all the parents that say he was bad, you are right. Take it from me a primary source. He completey ruined my time at that school. I have never vivited there since a graduated. When ever I look back I shutter. It's all because of coach k. One of my worst memories is when him and my dad got in a fight, and he was yelling and screaming at my own daddy. I always always always knew he was bad! hes bad bad bad. On the California cup trip in 2007, he was driving children around with a suspended license.
graduate
Sun Oct 11 2009 00:23
I'm a recent graduate of MA and I have something to say- SCREW ALL OF THE PARENTS WHO SAY THAT THEY KNEW THIS WAS COMING. You didn't know a thing, so don't act like you did. Coach K was a good coach even though he let us down. He never bothered anyone and he NEVER EVER acted inappropriately towards any of us; I know this for a fact.
DONTASK
Wed Oct 7 2009 19:15
I'm Still in MA (Its my last year)
And I am shocked by coach. He always was stern and mean... I hear he lives on campus in summer. Some of my friends told me...
Coach... He ripped all my classmates hearts out. I will never forgive him.
still ma student
Tue Oct 6 2009 19:56
I am a ma student (last year for me) and i know he did a bad thing but he was the one who made our field hockey and i will always remeber him
Your name
Wed Sep 23 2009 15:57
I am a former student from MA and I HATED Coach K. He was a really weird and miserable piece of crap. Once I asked Coach K how hot it was outside. He had just finished taking another group out for recess and now he was taking our group out. Instead of answering me he wiped sweat off of his face and wiped it on mine. I think I was in 2nd or 3rd grade. Really a weird, nasty guy.
Your name
Wed Sep 9 2009 13:51
He is not living on campus, he had to move on Aug. 26th.
former student
Mon Aug 17 2009 17:18
I had a sighting of john riding in his silver jeep in montgomery county. His license tag in "panamint" just so we all know.
I can't beleive he is living on campus, That's insane!! he is probably associating with the children.
Your name
Thu Aug 13 2009 23:40
People...he will still go to court. Baltimore County had to "relinquish" the case to Federal Court. Hopefully, he will be found guilty and pay for his horrible crime in the Federal system. Meanwhile, he does roam the streets of Baltimore, Carroll and Montgomery County where he continues to reside at a log cabin on school property. You can catch him driving his jeep or a small, white compact vehicle...usually with sunglasses and driving at a slow pace...his driving record is full of speeding tix and dwi's and any vehicular tix would probably put him back in jail.
-
Thu Aug 6 2009 10:49
Where is he? Is he coaching children?
u.s. citizen
Fri Jul 31 2009 23:58
Legal Definition of nolle prosequi:

Latin for "we shall no longer prosecute." At trial, this is an entry made on the record by a prosecutor in a criminal case stating that he will no longer pursue the matter. An entry of nolle prosequi may be made at any time after charges are brought and before a verdict is returned or a plea entered. Essentially, it is an admission on the part of the prosecution that some aspect of its case against the defendant has fallen apart. Most of the time, prosecutors need a judge’s permission to “nol-pros” a case. (See Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 48a.) Abbreviated “nol. pros.” or “nol-pros.”

u.s. citizen
Fri Jul 31 2009 23:51
as of today, July 31st, this case is now CLOSED. nolle prosequi. keep your eyes and ears open for where he is.
u.s. citizen
Fri Jul 31 2009 23:45
DISTRICT COURT OF MARYLAND
Go Back
Case Information
Court System: DISTRICT COURT FOR BALTIMORE COUNTY - CRIMINAL SYSTEM
Case Number: 5C00293361Tracking No:000001638593
Case Type: CRIMINAL
District Code: 08Location Code:04
Document Type: STATEMENT OF CHARGESIssued Date:03/12/2009
Case Status: CLOSEDCase Disposition:TRIAL

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Defendant Information
Defendant Name: KOVACH, JOHN JOSEPH JR
Race: WHITE, CAUCASIAN, ASIATIC INDIAN, ARAB
Sex: MHeight:600Weight:225DOB:01/29/1957

Address: 14102 LONGNECKER RD
City: REISTERSTOWNState:MDZip Code:21136 - 0000

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charge and Disposition Information

(Each Charge is listed separately. The disposition is listed below the Charge)

Charge No: 001Description:POSSESS CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
Statute: CR.11.208Description:POSSESS CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
Amended Date: CJIS Code:1 1776MO/PLL:Probable Cause:X
Incident Date From: 03/11/2009 To: 03/11/2009 Victim Age:
Disposition Plea: OTHER PLEA
Disposition: NOLLE PROSEQUIDisposition Date:07/31/2009
Fine:$0.00Court Costs:$0.00CICF:$0.00
Amt Suspended: Fine:$0.00Court Costs:$0.00CICF:$0.00
PBJ EndDate: Probation End Date:Restitution Amount:$0.00
Jail Term: Yrs:Mos:Days:
Suspended Term: Yrs:Mos:Days:
Credit Time Served:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charge No: 002Description:FIREARMS-ACCESS BY MINORS
Statute: CR.4.104Description:FIREARMS-ACCESS BY MINORS
Amended Date: CJIS Code:2 0239MO/PLL:Probable Cause:X
Incident Date From: 03/11/2009 To: 03/11/2009 Victim Age:
Disposition Plea: OTHER PLEA
Disposition: NOLLE PROSEQUIDisposition Date:07/31/2009
Fine:$0.00Court Costs:$0.00CICF:$0.00
Amt Suspended: Fine:$0.00Court Costs:$0.00CICF:$0.00
PBJ EndDate: Probation End Date:Restitution Amount:$0.00
Jail Term: Yrs:Mos:Days:
Suspended Term: Yrs:Mos:Days:
Credit Time Served:

former student
Tue Jun 23 2009 13:27
AHAHAH you guys are right the kids do HATE him. He was always so mean and terrible! I for one hate him, he always played favorites and everyone else he just humiliated! he was always critisizing and making poor kids cry! He made my experience at that school a HORRIBLE one!
u.s. citizen
Sun May 24 2009 19:55
NEW COURT DATE: August 10th at 8:30 a.m., Room 02, 120 E. CHESAPEAKE AVENUETOWSON 21286-5307
some kid on da street
Sat Apr 4 2009 23:49
Your name
Sat Mar 21 2009 16:05
i cant believe he would do something like that we had something special.. he treated me soo good i still love him

just wondering who wrote this thats all.

daTRUTH
Thu Apr 2 2009 14:23
I hope BIG John likes to sleep on his back!! LOL