Coach Charged with Assault During Repossession

Goshen Township, OH – 11 March 2013 – A Green Township volunteer coach  was arrested for felonious assault after allegedly using a loaded shotgun to threaten a Repo Man during early morning hours last week.

Gary W. Kohler, 57, has been charged with one count of second-degree felonious assault after officers responded to his home at 3:36 a.m. Thursday after the agent reported that Kohler had threatened him with a shotgun while he was attempting to repossess a vehicle at Kohler’s residence.

According to police reports, the agent claims that he dragged Kohler’s 2012 Chrysler 200 into the street when Kohler bolted from the house yelling. When informed that it was a repossession, Kohler allegedly exited the residence with a shotgun and brandished it in a threatening manner outside the passenger window of the tow truck.

Kohler claims that he heard noises outside and that he believed someone was attempting to steal his vehicle. When asked about the shotgun, he stated that he had a right to protect his property from being stolen and that he could not have known for sure that it was a repossession.

Other firearms were seized from the home as well. Kohler was arrested and transported to the Mahoning County Justice Center. He was arraigned Thursday morning and a preliminary hearing was set for March 28.

Kohler, was recently approved on the recommendations of both high school Principal and Superintendent as a volunteer “sports coach” at a district board meeting.

Since that meeting, officials learned of Kohler’s arrest, which occurred after the appointment.

“We found out after the fact. Before that (arrest) happened, his fingerprints were fine,” Herring said Friday.

Athletic Director Robert Shansky has since been directed to advise Kohler he either needs to submit a letter resigning the volunteer coaching spot or the board will rescind its vote to appoint him.

“Nothing goes smooth here,” Herring said, adding that, once the court case against Kohler is completed, the appointment could be revisited, depending on the outcome.