Police accuse former swim coach of having sexual relationship with student
A former Riverside School District swim coach, who also was previously employed by Glade Run Lutheran Services working at the Seneca Valley School District, has been accused of having sexual relationship with a student.
Alaina M. Marshall, 29, of Beaver Falls, was charged Wednesday, Feb. 26, with 34 felony counts of sexual intercourse with a student, and one felony count each of corruption of minors and unlawful contact with a minor related to the incident that allegedly occurred over about two years.
Steven Green, president and CEO of Glade Run Lutheran Services in Zelienople, confirmed Thursday, Feb. 27, that Marshall was a licensed therapist with the company. Green said Marshall is no longer employed by Glade Run.
“We have no reason to believe that her poor judgment in her personal life or coaching positions ever spilled over into her work as a licensed therapist,” Green said.
“Glade Run Lutheran Services, a third-party contractor for individualized therapy services, has informed Seneca Valley that Alaina Marshall, a Glade Run employee, has been placed on leave arising from charges that are unrelated to Seneca Valley School District,” said Linda Andreassi, the district’s communication director, on Thursday. “While Ms. Marshall was previously assigned to provide services within the district, she is not presently working in any capacity at Seneca Valley.”
Beaver County detectives received a ChildLine report Feb. 16 that Marshall was having a sexual relationship with a Riverside School District swimmer.
On Feb. 18, an officer interviewed the juvenile, who admitted to the relationship, according to the affidavit. The juvenile told police the relationship started in January 2023 when he and his girlfriend broke up. The juvenile said he began talking to Marshall about it since she is a therapist, and they began texting on a regular basis during his sophomore year.
The juvenile told police the relationship became physical during his sophomore year when he was 16 attending a swim club at Blackhawk High School, according to the affidavit. He said the two had sexual intercourse in the pool office after everyone left the area.
The juvenile told police the two had sexual intercourse five more times either in the pool office or near the mailboxes in the pool area at the Riverside pool.
The juvenile reported no sexual contact between the two from July to September 2023, but said the contact resumed in September and November, with the two having sexual intercourse another 10 times in the pool office or pool area, according to the affidavit.
The juvenile said he and Marshall had sexual intercourse 17 times during the 2023-24 school year, and during summer of 2024, he and Marshall would work as lifeguards at the Riverside pool during open swims and have sexual intercourse afterward every day, police said. The juvenile said the two had sexual intercourse about six more times from August to December at the Riverside pool, according to the affidavit.
Police obtained search warrants for the juvenile’s phone and Marshall’s phone and school laptop, according to the affidavit.
The juvenile’s parents spoke with officers Feb. 18 and said they found it strange that Marshall texted the juvenile often and spent extra time with him during practice. The parents said they had expressed concern with the juvenile, who said nothing was going on, according to the affidavit.
The Riverside Beaver County School District released a statement Wednesday that said Marshall is prohibited from entering school grounds, but the district cannot provide further detail due to the police investigation. It encouraged anyone with information to contact the North Sewickley Police Department at 724-843-8118 or the Safe2Say anonymous tip line at 1-844-723-2792.
“An internal review confirms that all state and local requirements relating to background and preemployment checks was completed for this individual,” the statement said. “The safety and well-being of our students are our top priority, and we remain committed to supporting our Riverside students and families.”
Marshall is being held in the Beaver County Jail on a $250,000 bond. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for 8:45 a.m. March 7 before District Judge Daniel Viscuso.
