by A coach and teacher in southeast Minnesota are facing serious charges after being accused of sexually assaulting three female students. The disturbing allegations came to light following an anonymous tip received by the Winona Police Department last June.
29-year-old Eric Dione Birth, a track coach and teacher at Winona Senior High School, was arrested and arraigned on a felony criminal sexual conduct charge. The investigation began when a former student athlete claimed to have had a sexual relationship with Birth during her senior year. Initially, the victim denied any such relationship, but later admitted to lying during the investigation.
Another student came forward, alleging a sexual relationship with Birth when she was just 16 years old. A third victim also reported being involved with Birth during her junior year of high school. Shockingly, two other students discovered a video on Birth’s phone showing him engaged in a sexual act with one of the victims.
Birth, who has been a track coach since 2016 and a physical education teacher since 2021, has been placed on administrative leave. He faces one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and has a conditional bail set at $100,000.
Following Birth’s arrest, Winona Area Public Schools Superintendent Brad Berzinski addressed the situation in a letter to district families. The school district is fully cooperating with the investigation and urging anyone with relevant information to come forward.
These disturbing allegations serve as a reminder of the importance of ensuring the safety and well-being of students in educational settings. It is crucial for schools to conduct thorough background checks on employees and provide training on reporting protocols to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
