Suspended duPont Manual football coach pleads not guilty for allegedly having sex with minor

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Donnie Stoner, the suspended head football coach at duPont Manual High School accused of having sex with a student, pleaded not guilty Monday after turning himself in.

Stoner, who is also a teacher, pleaded not guilty to charges involving alleged sex with a minor female student.

A District Court judge set his bond at $5,000 cash with home incarceration, which Stoner posted.

Stoner was granted work release but ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim or any other students.

He is scheduled to be back in court on Aug. 9.

Stoner is charged with multiple counts of sex abuse 1st-degree, rape 3rd-degree and sodomy 3rd-degree.

Police say other charges could be pending.

Donnie Stoner Wanted.png — Pictured: a wanted poster for Donnie Stoner, the suspended head football coach of duPont Manual High School.

Stoner's attorney, Rob Eggert, has said he is "confident (Stoner) will be vindicated," but declined to comment further.

Stoner is accused of having sex with a minor at his home multiple times while he was teaching and coaching at Manual from May to July of 2023.

According to court documents, Stoner picked up the girl and drove her to his home multiple times and abused her.

The police report claims Stoner also touched and kissed the 17-year-old juvenile while in his classroom in May.

Stoner was "temporarily removed" from his position July 14 as per policies and procedures, a Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) spokesperson said at the time.

"Following our policies and procedures, Donnie Stoner has been reassigned to a job location where he will not have contact with children," spokeswoman Carolyn Callahan said Friday.

According to the Manual website, Stoner is listed as a credit recovery teacher.

JCPS has not elaborated on why Stoner was removed as coach.

In a letter sent home to parents by Manual athletics director David Zuberer and principal Michael Newman, players and coaches were informed of the coaching change. Josh Gillispie has been named as acting head coach until further notice. Gillispie has been coaching at Manual since 2019.

In 2022, Stoner took over the program and led Manual to a 9-3 record.

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