Olson sentenced to 2 years in jail for conduct with minor

Photo by Brett Dunlap Jeff Olson stood up in the court of Wood County Circuit Judge Robert Waters on Thursday to apologize for what he did after having pleaded guilty to distribution and exhibition of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. References were made to inappropriate conduct with a 16-year-old girl he was the tennis coach of at Parkersburg High School around 2018-19. He was sentenced to two years in the North Central Regional Jail
By Brett Dunlap
Staff Reporter
PARKERSBURG — The former YMCA director and former Parkersburg High School Girls Tennis coach was sentenced to two years in jail on Thursday.
Jeff Olson, 53, appeared before Wood County Circuit Judge Robert Waters for sentencing after he entered into a plea agreement on Feb. 1 where he pleaded guilty to distribution and exhibition of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
He was originally charged with displaying obscene material to and solicitation of a minor at his arrest in August 2023.
References were made during the hearing to pictures of a sexual nature being exchanged with a girl who was 16 years old at the time while he was her tennis coach as well as indications of things happening of a sexual nature during phone calls, all which occurred around 2018-19.
Olson joined the YMCA as program director in late 2018 and was named chief operating officer in January 2019. He had also served as a PHS tennis coach for a number of years but resigned in March 2023. Olson spoke before the court and publicly apologized to the victim and her family.
“The remorse I feel from my immoral and illegal actions is very deep and has led me on a path to change to do better,” he said. “I cannot, in words, explain the amount of guilt and remorse I feel.”
Waters said he received letters from people in the community in support of Olson. Defense Attorney George Cosenza urged the court to consider alternative sentencing, saying Olson has strong support in the community.
“He accepted responsibility for his actions right from the beginning when contacted by the police and has cooperated with the investigation and confessed his crime,” Cosenza said.
“This was an abnormal lapse of judgment on behalf of Mr. Olson who has otherwise led a very law-abiding life.”
He has been working at a church and has made efforts to improve his life. Cosenza, quoting a pre-sentencing report, said Olson admitted he failed to stop these actions or alert the girl’s parents, going on to say Olson convinced himself it was flattering. Olson is quoted in the report as saying he sinned and it wasn’t the girl’s fault.
“Mr. Olson has accepted full responsibility for what he did,” Cosenza said.
Olson’s daughter Alexandra made a statement on behalf of her father, saying her father was not above the law and there are rules and when those rules are broken there are consequences.
However, consequences teach lessons, she said.
“I can confidently say my dad has learned his lesson,” she said. “He has been wracked with guilt for months for the pain his actions have caused my family and those close to us.”
He has recommitted himself to his faith and a relationship with God and being active in Bible study at church and more. She and her father have had many regular conversations about God, Jesus, spirituality, sin and suffering.
“I can say with the utmost confidence that my dad has repented for his sins,” she said.
Wood County Prosecutor Pat Lefebure asked the court to do the full two-year sentence in jail and reject any request for alternative sentencing.
“This crime and his action and his stature at the time demand that he be in prison,” Lefebure said. “He took advantage of a minor while in a position of trust.
“That, in the state’s opinion, demands incarceration.”
Lefebure said there was a significant age difference between the two as Olson was 47 at the time. Despite what was agreed to in the plea agreement, there were many instances where Olson acted inappropriately with this girl and they could have been dealing with a lot more charges, he said.
“We know this wasn’t just a one-time event,” Lefebure said. “It was not a one-time lapse in judgment. “This was approximately 50 videos/pictures sent over a period of time, he engaged in phone sex with the victim and (more).”
Olson has indicated in reports he has stopped drinking, but Lefebure said tests have indicated otherwise. Reports indicated there were four times when he tested positive for alcohol consumption at a significant level, just over the past couple of months.
Lefebure also said Olson only started counseling after his arrest.
“This is someone who has a family and should and does know better and chose to ignore all of that,” Lefebure said. “He chose to continually communicate with the victim in a sexual manner while being her tennis coach.”
Lefebure said there were requests also made by Olson for a sexual relationship with the victim that did not come to happen.
Waters said Olson had a high position of trust as a coach is a major factor in this case.
“It is more than a lapse of judgment,” he said. “It occurred over a substantial amount of time.”
He also took into account the number of photos/videos that were sent. One phone call between the two was monitored by law enforcement mentioned in the reports that dealt with inappropriate subject matter.
“The court believes the appropriate sentence is the two years (in jail),” Waters said.
Olson was not given any credit for time served. He will be on supervised release for 20 years following his release and he will have to register as a sex offender for life. He was also fined $2,000 and ordered to pay court costs.
The victim, who is now 21 years old, addressed the court.
“I have had a hard time coming up with the words I have felt for the last six years of my life,” she said. “I may not have thought it then, but I was a perfectly happy young girl full of life, love and ambition.
“I lost that spark at 16. At 21, I’m still having a hard time finding it again.”
What happened has impacted her life and it has tainted her memories of this area and her teenage years.
She was a victim and it took a long time to accept.
“I lost a lot because of what happened,” she said. “It took a long time to accept it.”
She urged Waters to give Olson the full two-year sentence in jail, even though it will not make up for all the years of pain she has felt..
“I hope for some closure,” she said. “I can begin healing knowing I am helping other innocent girls be protected from the defendant.
“I am done carrying the guilt I have carried for him for the last six years.”
Contact Brett Dunlap at bdunlap@newsansentinel.com