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.
Assistant field hockey coach John Kovach arrested
Possession of child pornography
Published: Monday, March 16, 2009
Updated: Monday, March 16, 2009
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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:
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 himjust wondering who wrote this thats all.
Case InformationCourt 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: ACTIVE
Defendant InformationDefendant 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
Court Scheduling InformationTrial Date: 06/08/2009Trial Time:01:00 PMRoom:04
Trial Type:
Trial Location:120 E. CHESAPEAKE AVENUETOWSON 21286-5307
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:
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:
no i did not mean anything by it, no you do not need to give it to any investigators because he has not simply done anything sexual to me that needs to be investigated by police
do not worry
How will we be kept informed as this progresses in the future? The letter by mail was an unfortunate choice. Why couldn’t you use email? Or put a letter in the hands of parents at drop-off or dismissal?
Will there only be statements by the school after there is coverage by the news?
What are the plans for physical education for the rest of the year? It seems like at least there is an opportunity for a more rounded program and a nurturing teacher. Are yelling and rants acceptable behavior by any of the staff?
Will the parent council continue to be only an entity for fund raising or will it have a role in policy and communication with parents?
It sounds like concerns were raised before but the choice was live with it or leave it. Do teachers have the same live with it or leave it choice if they have concerns? Is there a plan for working with concerns raised without being labeled a difficult parent or employee?