Charges: Former Lake Park-Audubon coaches fondled players at hotel

Two former Lake Park-Audubon (Minn.) high school girls' basketball coaches sexually touched two players and offered them alcohol during an out-of-town tournament in December, according to court documents released Friday.

The documents, filed in Stearns County (Minn.) District Court, charge Andrew Patrick Schwan, 33, Detroit Lakes, Minn., and Darrin Alan Myhre, 28, Minot, N.D., each with felony fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct.

Both men also face gross misdemeanor charges of misconduct of a public employee and furnishing alcohol to a minor.

In addition, Schwan faces a misdemeanor charge of furnishing tobacco to a minor.

According to the court documents:

Schwan was the head girls basketball coach for LP-A and Myhre was assistant coach when the team attended a tournament in Upsala, Minn., in December.

The players, coaches and some parents stayed overnight at a motel Dec. 28.

After an 11 p.m. team curfew, both coaches went to the girls' room to check on the players and appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.

When two girls went to get pop from a machine, Myhre went along and dared the girls to jump in the pool, which they did.

Later, Schwan sent a text message to the girls asking them to come to the room he shared with Myhre.

There, the men asked the girls sexual questions and Schwan asked one of the girls to go outside with him so he could smoke a cigarette.

Schwan let the girl take a drag from his cigarette and returned with the girl to his room.

Schwan and Myhre then encouraged the girls to drink alcohol, and one of the girls drank a shot of whiskey.

Court papers also state:

Schwan got under bed covers with one of the girls and began touching her breasts over her bra. He also touched her genital area, both over and under her clothing, the court documents said.

The girl said Schwan got mad at her because she wouldn't do anything with him.

Myhre is accused of touching one of the girls over her sports bra, telling her, "No one has to know," before falling asleep.

St. Cloud police said a parent of one of the players reported the alleged sexual contact to officers.

Both men resigned from their jobs in February, which according to the court documents is when the police investigation began.

The men were charged by summons and are scheduled to make court appearances Sept. 27.

Dale Hogie, the superintendent of the LP-A School District, said Friday that he could not talk about the case in detail.

However, he said if situations arise that involve students, the district follows up with counseling and offers other services.

"That's a common practice that any school district will do," he said.

Phone messages left for Schwan and Myhre were not returned as of late Friday.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Dave Olson at (701) 241-5555