Rowan County Senior HS Basketball coach Andrew Zaheri charged with rape: What are the charges and how severe can be his punishment?

Horrific news surfaced Wednesday that high school basketball coach Andrew Zaheri had been arrested and charged with third-degree rape. Zaheri, who was the assistant basketball coach at Rowan County Senior High School in Kentucky, has since been placed on administrative leave.

The 39-year-old is listed as the JV coach of the boys basketball team at the high school. He is currently being held in jail after being arrested. Conflicting reports state that he was an assistant varsity coach. LEX18 reported that Rowan County Senior High School released a statement on Facebook, which has since been deleted, which read:

"Rowan County Schools was made aware of allegations of inappropriate sexual misconduct between a student and a Rowan County Senior High School employee. This employee has been placed on administrative leave and the investigation has been turned over to child protective services and the Kentucky State Police for investigation.

"Rowan County Schools take all allegations of inappropriate behavior seriously and will cooperate with the appropriate agencies throughout the investigation. Rowan County Schools' top priority is ensuring the safety of our students. If you have any information please contact the Morehead State Police."

According to State Police, the investigation is ongoing as Zaheri sits in Rowan County Detention Center after being arrested on Wednesday.

What punishment could basketball coach Andrew Zaheri face if convicted?

If convicted, Rowan County Senior High School basketball coach Andrew Zaheri could face several years in prison. According to the Kentucky state legislature, the third-degree rape charge that Zaheri was hit with is a third-degree Class D felony.

According to reports, the state classifies his crimes as 'Rape in the third Degree' given that Zaheri is over 21, and his victim is under 16. If convicted, he will face between one and five years of imprisonment.

It is important to mention that in the United States, 'Innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt' is standard in such cases.

So far, Zaheri has yet to release a statement on the matter from the local jail, and there has been no word on when he will appear in court next.

Stay tuned for updates on this case as they become available.

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