Up to 40 witnesses could testify in trial of former JCPS football coaches charged with child sex abuse

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Twin brothers and former Jefferson County Public Schools football coaches facing dozens of child sex abuse charges are on track to go to trial early next year.

Ronnie and Donnie Stoner appeared in Jefferson County Circuit Court on Monday for a pretrial hearing. Attorneys told the judge the case remains on track for a February trial.

During the hearing, attorneys said up to 40 witnesses could be called to testify.

The brothers face a combined 52 charges related to crimes spanning from 2005 to 2023 and involving four alleged victims.

Donnie Stoner, a former head football coach at duPont Manual High School, faces 35 counts, including rape, sodomy, sexual abuse and tampering with evidence.

He's accused of of having sex with the juvenile at his home multiple times while he was teaching and coaching at Manual from May to July of 2023. According to court documents, he picked up the girl and drove her to his home multiple times and abused her.

The police report claims Donnie Stoner also touched and kissed the 17-year-old juvenile while in his classroom in May 2023.

His twin brother, Ronnie Stoner, a former assistant football coach and safety administrator at the school, faces 21 counts, including incest and unlawful transactions with a minor.

Another victim accused both brothers of sexual abuse as early as 2005. Ronnie and Donnie Stoner were the coaches when she was a girl on the football team at Evangel Christian School. She said the sexual encounters started when she was 15 years old, and there were several instances over a few years.

According to court documents, in at least one of those instances the victim was raped by the Stoners and one of their close family friends, Zachary Kilgore — who is also charged in the case.

Both brothers have pleaded not guilty.

The Stoners were indicted in 2025. During their arraignment, all four alleged victims attended court, marking the first time some had seen the brothers in years.

The Stoner brothers are scheduled to return to court in October ahead of their planned February trial.