Hartford's basketball coach sexually assaulted a young player

HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) – A Hartford basketball coach was convicted after sexually assaulting one of his players.

The coach was identified as Danny Lawhorn, Jr., 33, of Hartford.

According to the lawsuit, police were dispatched to a hotel for a report of a sexual assault.

The victim was an international basketball player hosted and coached by Lawhorn.

At the time, Lawhorn was a coach and manager for a local AAU basketball league.

The victim reported that Lawhorn texted her asking her to come to his room to help with stretching after practice and before a tournament, State’s Attorney Sharmese L. Wolcott said.

According to Wolcott, the victim said Lawhorn assaulted her during this interaction.

With the help of a family member, the victim was able to flee the hotel. Once in a safe location, hotel staff helped her call the police.

Later that morning, Hartford police arrested Lawhorn at the scene. He was also in possession of crack cocaine packaged for sale, police said.

Lawhorn pleaded guilty to federal drug crimes.

He was also found guilty of second-degree sexual abuse.

The coach was sentenced to ten years in prison, suspended after serving four years, and placed on probation for ten years.

Lawhorn was also ordered to register with the CT Sex Offender Registry.

State’s Attorney Walcott stated: “The victim in this case has faced many accusations against her character and credibility and ultimately told the judge, ‘I am not broken,’ and listed her many achievements since this incident. I am grateful to have been able to bring justice to a young man who had her innocence taken away without her consent.”