A former Berkshire High School baseball coach is facing a rape charge after Parma Heights police say he had sexual contact with a 12-year-old girl. Officers arrested 53-year-old Steve Smetana at his Claridon Township home on May 4, 2026, and took him to the Parma Detention Center, where he was being held ahead of a May 5 bond hearing, according to Geauga County Maple Leaf.
Parma Heights detectives say the girl and her family went to police on April 27, which launched an investigation that culminated in a four-hour search of Smetana’s residence and his arrest. Multiple law-enforcement agencies helped execute the search warrant, which was signed in Chardon Municipal Court, Geauga County Maple Leaf reported.
What Police Say About The Alleged Encounters
“Smetana met a 12-year-old girl on a chat platform and started communications that led to text messages,” Sgt. Eric Taylor said in the police account, as cited by Geauga County Maple Leaf. Investigators allege the two later met at the girl’s home, at a nearby church and at a park, and that sexual intercourse took place at the victim’s residence.
Charges And Legal Context
Parma Municipal Court has filed a rape charge against Smetana, which the reporting outlet notes is treated as a first-degree felony. Under Ohio law, sexual conduct with a child under 13 falls under R.C. 2907.02 and is classified as rape, a felony of the first degree. The statute specifies that such conduct is punishable as a first-degree felony; the full text appears in Ohio Revised Code §2907.02.
Local Ties And Past Roles
Smetana is well known in local sports circles and the turf industry. He runs Field Of Play, a Chardon-based synthetic turf installation company founded in 2007, whose website lists him as CEO and cites projects across Ohio and in other states. His company bio references a playing career at Kent State University and a 1996 signing with the Boston Red Sox organization, according to the team page at Field Of Play.
What Happens Next
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing while prosecutors review the case and determine whether to seek additional charges. Chardon Municipal Court records identify Terri L. Stupica as the municipal court judge in that jurisdiction. Any decisions about an indictment or further filings would come from local prosecutors, and new developments would be reflected in Parma Municipal Court records and by the Cuyahoga County prosecutor’s office.
