21-03-2025
High school coach charged with sex crimes
GRAYSON A Carter County man and staff member of a local high school was jailed on Wednesday on multiple sex crimes, allegedly involving minors.
Harlee Estepp, 28, of Grayson, was briefly lodged in Boyd County Detention Center before being transferred to Carter County after a grand jury indicted Estepp this week on two counts of first-degree sexual abuse and procuring a minor child via electronic means.
According to social media and numerous news reports, Estepp was the head track and field coach at Ashland Blazer High School, and per previous publications in TDI, was also on coaching staff for the school's football program.
Per Estepp's indictment, he allegedly committed two separate instances of sexual abuse by subjecting a minor younger than 16 to sexual contact or 'engag(ed) in masturbation in the presence of the minor,' or 'engag(ed) in masturbation while using the Internet, telephone or other electronic communication device while communicating with a minor.'
The class-D felonies occurred between August 2021 and May 2022, records show.
A final charge of procuring or promoting a minor via electronic means occurred during the same time frame, where prosecutors allege Estepp utilized the internet or communication device to 'induce the minor to engage in sexual or other prohibited activities,' according to court records.
As of this writing, Estepp is still lodged in the Carter County Detention Center and is scheduled for arraignment before Carter Circuit Judge Rebecca Phillips on March 26 at 1 p.m.
