HOWELL, Mich. – A former youth wrestling coach in Howell will spend the next several years of his life in prison for lying to an entire community about having leukemia and molesting a 13-year-old boy.
Prosecutors said Zachary Jones used a fake doctor's note last year to support his illness claims, and raised thousands of dollars in donations. Some supporters even got tattoos in his honor.
But when things didn't add up, police got involved.
"We were notified by one of the persons who was conducting a fundraiser on behalf of Mr. Jones who started to become suspicious as to whether or not he was really suffering from leukemia at the time," Howell Police Chief George Basar said.
During their investigation, police said they found out Jones gave a 13-year-old boy alcohol and chewing tobacco. Jones was also charged with engaging in sexual acts with the boy.
Jones pleaded guilty to three criminal sexual conduct charges, and charges of false pretenses and identity theft.
“I’m so very sorry," Jones told a judge Thursday at his sentencing. "There's no excuse for what I did."
He was sentenced to:
Criminal sexual conduct charge No. 1 - 15 to 40 years
Criminal sexual conduct charge No. 2 - 15 to 40 years
Criminal sexual conduct charge No. 3 - 10 - 15 years
False pretenses: 23 months to 5 years
Identity theft: 23 months to 5 years
They will all be served concurrently.
Jones coached at Highlander Way Middle School. The school district said a criminal history background was done on Jones and that it has not revealed any prior criminal activity.