Ex-Saugerties Coach Wanted In Teen Sex Assault Case Nabbed In CT: Police

SAUGERTIES, NY — A former local school custodian and wrestling coach accused of having sexual contact with underage teen students was arraigned Thursday on 18 counts of third-degree rape.

Reid Kappler, 32, appeared in Ulster County Court on July 24, and he entered a “not guilty” plea to the charges.

He is next due to appear in court on Oct. 16, court records show.

On July 14 at 3:30 a.m., Plainfield, Connecticut cops assisted U.S. Marshals and the Connecticut Violent Fugitive Task Force with arresting Kappler at his home at 6 Jacques St., in the Moosup section of Plainfield.

The Ulster County Sheriff's Office had an extraditable arrest warrant for Kappler for the 18 counts. After an initial appearance in Superior Court in Connecticut, he was transferred to New York to face the charges here.

The Ulster County District Attorney’s office said in a press release that Kappler is accused of engaging in sexual conduct with two minor children when they were between 15 and 16 years old. He was the teens’ wrestling coach at the time, prosecutors said.

“This defendant took advantage of two children who looked up to him as their coach. He abused the trust of the community by engaging in sexual crimes with two students. This behavior undermines the trust of the community and is never tolerated,” said Special Victims Bureau Chief Jenna Hastings.

Kappler no longer works for Saugerties schools.

On Friday, Jeffrey Riozzi, president of the Saugerties Board of Education, told the community in an announcement that the “recent allegations that have been reported against a former Saugerties School district employee and wrestling coach are deeply troubling.”

The school board on Friday voted unanimously to hire an external independent investigator.

This investigator will evaluate the school district’s response to complaints of inappropriate behavior, review all policies and procedures, and develop a written report summarizing findings and recommendations.

“We, as a district, owe it to our students to do and be better. Student safety is our utmost priority,” Riozzi said, in the announcement.