A former Jay Public Schools girls' basketball coach accused of having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old player has pleaded guilty in Delaware CountyDistrict Court. Less than a month before his trial was set to begin on April 11, Cory Lyndon Henton, 38, pleaded guilty to multiple felony sex crimesinvolving the girl, including seconddegree rape, rape by instrumentation, 16 counts of lewd molestation, engaging in a pattern of criminal offenses,and soliciting sexual conduct and communication with a minor.
Delaware County District Judge Robert Haney handed down sentences of up to 20 years--more than 340 years total--for Henton's crimes; however, most sentencesare to run concurrently, and all but 15 years of the sentences are suspended.
The defendant must serve at least 85 percent of the 15 years--nearly 13 years--before becoming eligible for parole. Once released from prison, the formerbasketball coach will be required to register as a sex offender for life. If he violates his probation, the judge can revoke the suspension and orderhim to prison for the remainder of each sentence.
Henton first came under investigation in March 2015 and resigned from Jay Public Schools that month. He was accused of having sex with a 15-year-old girlhe met as the girl's eighth grade basketball coach. In his guilty plea, he admitted to having sex with the girl in his hotel room in Oklahoma City,where the team traveled to play. He was also accused of continuing to contact the girl after his arrest and trying to convince her not to testify againsthim.
His wife filed for divorce in July, and the divorce became final in November 2015.
