Devin Hernandez, a former coach and athletic administrator at Hawken Upper School and Notre Dame Cathedral Latin (NDCL), has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of third-degree sexual battery involving a 17-year-old student, as reported by WKYC. Geauga County Common Pleas Court Judge Carolyn Paschke also ordered Hernandez to serve five years of probation upon release and mandated him to register as a Tier 3 sex offender for life.
The abuse occurred during Hernandez's time as a strength and conditioning coach at Hawken, with incidents taking place on school property and in his vehicle before the school day. The case, which has followed a path from the concealment in the darkness of secrecy to the light of a courtroom, concluded with a sentence that will run concurrently, as mentioned by FOX8. Hernandez, who has a wife and two children, was told that the impact of his actions was vast and harmful, not just to a victim but to entire communities that trusted him.
In court, the victim addressed the deep and lasting trauma sustained from the repeated abuse. "This was reported by the victim’s counselor after she had gone away to college and she was experiencing such trauma from this," stated Geauga County Prosecutor James Flaiz, as highlighted by FOX8. Paschke, in her sentencing, emphasized the betrayal of trust inherent in Hernandez's actions, saying that trusted adults are expected to guide and protect, not exploit the vulnerabilities of the young.
Hernandez expressed remorse in court, acknowledging his failure to uphold the trust placed in him. "I am so incredibly sorry,” Hernandez said. “I’m sorry to the victim. I’m sorry to her family. I’m sorry to my family. I’m sorry to the school communities I worked at. And I’m sorry to anybody who was negatively impacted by my actions in any way," he said, according to a report by FOX8. Meanwhile, NDCL has not yet responded to inquiries regarding Hernandez's current employment status, with Hernandez having been put on leave from his position at the school.
While the sentencing offers some form of closure, the case shines a harsh light on the complex power dynamics and the responsibilities of educators to safeguard their students' well-being. Paschke hoped the sentencing would enable the victim to find healing and peace, reflecting an enduring concern for the student's ability to move forward after such long-lasting harm.
