Ex-St. Thomas assistant coach charged in sexual conduct case

Jon Michael Hughes, a former St. Thomas assistant men’s basketball coach, has been charged with third- and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct over allegations from his time as a high school teacher.

Hughes, 56, worked with the St. Thomas basketball team for 25 years until he retired last March, according to an article on Tommie Sports. When Hughes came to St. Thomas, he was a business teacher at Rush City High School in Rush City, Minnesota. He was a manager in a family business at the time of his retirement from St. Thomas, the story said.

St. Thomas issued this statement Thursday morning:

“Jon Hughes retired as assistant men’s basketball coach at the end of the 2015-16 season. News of these charges and the allegations are a surprise to the university’s leadership, its director of athletics and its head men’s basketball coach. The university is reviewing this matter.”

According to the criminal complaint, the alleged assaults took place when Hughes was a high school teacher in the 1980s in Rush City. The alleged victim, a female, was a student and baby sitter for Hughes. The circumstances came to light during a counseling session, according to the complaint, and were reported to the police in 2015. Hughes denied the allegations in an interview with authorities, the complaint said.

Under Minnesota law, the maximum penalty for a conviction of third-degree criminal sexual conduct is 15 years in prison or a $30,000 fine. The maximum penalty for fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct is 10 years in prison or a $20,000 fine.

Check back at TommieMedia for more details.