Rock Hill High Wrestling Coach Charged With Sex Crimes

A high school wrestling coach in South Carolina has been accused of raping two female students at the school, authorities said Thursday.

Ira Bernard Durham, 36, was accused of raping the girls in two separate incidents within the last two months, said York County sheriff's Capt. Jerry Hoffman. Durham is being held without bail at the York County jail.

Durham, of Charlotte, N.C., faces two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and three counts of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, according to the sheriff's office.

His phone number was not listed and it not immediately clear whether he had an attorney. A message left at the public defender's office was not immediately returned. Thursday was a state holiday.

Durham was hired as Rock Hill High School's coach last year. He is also the teacher for in-school suspension and an assistant football coach. He has been suspended from his job without pay due to the severity of the charges, school district officials said.

“We deeply regret this situation has occurred,” said Rock Hill School District Superintendent Lynn Moody. "A complete background check was performed when Mr. Durham was first hired, and there has been no indication of any inappropriate behavior on his part until this week.”

One of the alleged victims went to police this week to report an assault Monday, and that investigation discovered the second allegation, Hoffman said. Durham knew both students, Hoffman said. He declined to be more specific.

Investigators told Eyewitness News the victims each said she was forced to have sex with Durham against her will.

Durham was arrested Wednesday after he went to the sheriff's office to be interviewed, Hoffman said.

Breanna Watkins, a senior at Rock Hill High, knows Durham and said she’s surprised by the arrest.

“He’s really nice. I couldn’t believe it when I saw it on TV, because it’s hard for me because I can’t see him doing that,” she said.

Other students said they couldn’t believe it either.

"Honestly, I don't think he would ever do something like that," said Luis Nunez.

"I was shocked as heck, man," said C.J. Raush.

Durham, a Rock Hill High graduate, wrestled two seasons at Wilkes Community College in Wilkesboro, N.C., then transferred to Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tenn. He won the NAIA national championship at 158 pounds in 1993, his junior year.

Investigators say they’re looking into the possibility of there being even more victims. Anyone with information is asked to call the York County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 628-3059.