March 29, 2025
By Rachel Scofield

On March 1, a 16-year-old girl, accompanied by her big brother, entered the Pickerington Police Department lobby to file a report. The girl alleged that two years ago when she was an eighth grader at Ridgeview Junior High School, a wrestling coach, Kory Ross, started a sexual relationship with her.

What reportedly began as hugs in the hallway, became his hand on her thigh as he offered to drive her home after school. Eventually, Ross took her to area parks where the interactions allegedly became sexual.

Because the parks that she named (Busey Park and the Burning Lake area of Pickerington Ponds) were outside the city of Pickerington’s jurisdiction, the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office took over the case.

On March 21, the Sheriff’s Office arrested the 34-year-old Ross without incident. On March 27, the Fairfield County Commons Plea Court indicted him on four counts of “Unlawful Sexual Conduct with a Minor” – a third-degree felony.

Sheriff Alex Lape issued the following statement, “This type of behavior is absolutely unacceptable, especially from someone in a position of trust and authority. We are committed to holding individuals accountable for the safety and well-being of our community’s children.”

Ross posted a bond of $250,000 and remains under house arrest in his Pataskala home with an ankle monitor. The Johnstown-Monroe School District, where he is currently employed as coach for both middle school wrestling and track, has placed Ross on administrative leave.