COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—A former high school basketball coach convicted of assault for hitting a player in the groin has been sentenced to five years of probation.
Gregory L. Burr, 29, could have been sentenced Friday to up to 18 months in jail after he was convicted of misdemeanor assault last month, but 4th Judicial District Judge David Miller said Burr’s clean record and the misdemeanor charge did not warrant jail time.
Miller ordered Burr to perform 50 hours of community service and barred him from coaching during his probation.
Former Monument Academy players had testified that Burr hit them in the groin repeatedly with basketballs, tennis balls, a clipboard or with his fist. One player said he had to have scrotal surgery.
Burr originally was charged with more than three dozen crimes including sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust. To be convicted of sexual assault, jurors would have had to find evidence that Burr intended to sexually assault them.
Burr said he had accidentally hit the boys in the groin and that he never intended to hurt them.
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Information from: The Gazette,
