Former assistant South Fayette football coach accused of sexting teen boys
A former South Fayette High School assistant football coach currently employed by California University of Pennsylvania has been charged with five felonies for allegedly attempting to initiate sexual contact with two 15-year-old boys.
A warrant was issued March 14 for Patrick I. Onesko, 27, of East Millsboro, on charges of criminal solicitation, two counts of corruption of minors and two counts of unlawful contact with a minor.
A search warrant was carried out at the home of Onesko’s parents in South Fayette Township, according to police Chief John Phoennik, who said Onesko is currently on vacation out of state with his parents.
Onesko, who coached at South Fayette from 2009 to 2014, made contact with police officers and said he would come back and turn himself in, Lt. John Leininger said.
“We’ll track him down and pick him up if he doesn’t turn himself in in a reasonable amount of time,” Leininger said.
According to court documents, the investigation began Feb. 6 when a South Fayette resident came to the station to report that his son received sexually explicit messages from a man on the social media site Snapchat.
The father said he thought a photo sent by the man could be from Onesko, who allegedly identified himself at one point as “Coach O.” Police said the Snapchat account was traced to Onesko.
In addition to confiscating a computer and cellphone from the home of Onesko’s parents, the department confiscated a university computer used by Onesko.
Cal U. spokeswoman Christine Kindl said Onesko has been a part-time assistant football coach for about a year, and was a volunteer with the athletic department prior to getting that position. Kindl said university officials were made aware of the charges March 14.
“We take this very, very seriously. We are following internal procedures as we get more information,” Kindl said. “We will cooperate with police if we are asked to do so.”
Calls to South Fayette School District were not immediately returned.