Former South Windsor Coach Sentenced in Child Molestation Case

A former South Windsor youth football coach has been sentenced to a year in jail for molesting a 10-year-old boy.

It is the second set of such accusations against Richard Beganski, 68, of Salem, who formerly lived in South Windsor and coached a Tri-Town Panthers youth football team.

Beganski was originally charged in January 2013 with two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault and two counts of risk of injury to a minor, according to the Norwich Bulletin. But Beganski entered a nolo contendere plea — meaning he does not admit guilt but is convicted.

The incidents occurred in late 2011 or early 2012, when Beganski reportedly touched a boy inappropriately on multiple occasions while visiting with family. The boy’s father also reported that Beganski had sexually assaulted him as a child, according to the Journal Inquirer.

Beganski was also accused of inappropriately touching a middle-school-aged girl in 1990, according to a 1995 Hartford Courant article. The Judicial Branch has no record of a conviction in the case.

The Courant article also says that Beganski volunteered as a coach for the Tri-Town Panthers for more than 10 years.

When he is released from prison, Beganski will be required to register as a sex offender and will serve 10 years probation.