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State Offers Newsome High Ex-Coach A Deal In Student Sex Case

TBO.com

Published: June 2, 2008

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Ronald Lewis

TAMPA - A former Newsome High School soccer coach facing a charge of unlawful sex with a minor will be offered a plea deal, prosecutors said.

Ronald Eugene Lewis, 37, was not in the courtroom for today's proceeding. Neither the prosecutors nor Lewis' defense attorney would discuss the terms of the deal. The two sides will return to court on June 18 to discuss whether Lewis will accept the offer.

On Jan. 31, Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office investigators arrested Lewis, saying he had sex with a 17-year-old female student during encounters ranging from February 2007 through November. He initially was charged with seven counts of unlawful sex with a minor.

Prosecutors pursued only one charge.

Assistant State Attorney Pam Bondi said prosecuting seven charges would require specific dates for each incident.

When there is one victim and there are no specific dates, defendants usually are charged only once.

Lewis resigned from the Lithia school, school officials said.

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