Trial Date Set for Former Ripon High School Coach

RIPON, Wis. (WRPN)- Jury trial dates have been set for the former Ripon High School varsity boys’ basketball coach accused of having sex with a student.

Mihai Schnell-Harrison was in Fond du Lac County Court Friday for a plea hearing, but the defense did not accept the prosecution’s offer. Schnell-Harrison is charged with felony counts of child enticement-sexual contact, sexual assault of a student-by school staff, exposing genitals, possession of child pornography, and exposing a child to harmful materials.

Two five-day jury trials were scheduled with one starting on October 6^th and a second beginning December 15^th if the first doesn’t proceed.

According to the criminal complaint Schnell-Harrison and the victim met in a group-chat online, but they moved their chats to Snapchat. Their chats became more graphic and sexual in nature. They eventually began exchanging nude photos of themselves.

Ultimately they met last November 6^th and had sex. The victim was 16-years-old at the time. Schnell-Harrison at first told Ripon Police he didn’t know the victim wasn’t 18.

A school district official told investigators Schnell-Harrison was still employed as the head basketball coach when he met with the student.