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JUDGE DECLINES HOLD ON CIVIL LAWSUIT PENDING CRIMINAL CHARGE RESOLUTION INVOLVING FORMER WRESTLING COACH

Blair County Judge Timothy M. Sullivan has declined to put a civil lawsuit on hold pending resolution of criminal charges against a former Bellwood-Antis wrestling coach. Last week, Judge Sullivan handed down the ruling that denies the school district’s request for the hold after a review of legal arguments that were aired during a May 4 hearing. It now means that the civil case brought about by an alleged sexual assault victim and his father, can continue to proceed. Criminal charges are also now pending against former wrestling coach Ryan L. Blazier, who was arrested by state police back in February 2020 and charged with sexual assault offenses based on alleged activity that took place in 2019 and 2020 on school grounds involving two boys. The judge last week, also declined to recognize the school district’s concern linked to its personnel participating in civil court proceedings while criminal charges are pending, after the school district suggested that Blazier’s participation puts him at risk of self-incrimination and its personnel could be at similar risk. Judge Sullivan also rejected the idea of putting the civil case on hold by pointing to the amount of time that might be involved while waiting for the criminal case to be addressed, saying that if Blazier’s criminal cases were to proceed to jury trial and generate convictions, additional delays could follow through appellate reviews.

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