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WILKES-BARRE — Former Coughlin High School teacher, administrator and wrestling coach Stephen Stahl will return to an empty home amid talks of divorce, according to court testimony.
Stahl, 48, of Hunlock Creek, was granted parole Tuesday from Luzerne County Correctional Facility, where he had served just over six months for a corruption of minors conviction.
Attorneys for both sides said Stahl’s wife no longer lives at the address to which he was released as the couple enters divorce proceedings. Divorce paperwork could not be located Tuesday.
Judge Michael T. Vough sentenced the former teacher in March to serve six to 23 months behind bars after a jury in January found him guilty of allegations he engaged in an 18-month sexual relationship with a 16-year-old female student.
The victim, now 27, joined Assistant District Attorney Nancy Violi in arguing against Stahl’s release, saying he has shown no sign of remorse nor any willingness to take responsibility for his actions.
Violi made reference to a Twitter account allegedly operated by Stahl which, between the time his of trial and sentencing, produced a number of posts which appeared to make disparaging comments about the victim.
Posts from the account, @CHSWrestleClub, contained among other things several negative references to a “home wrecker” and the hashtag #freestahl. Earlier posts included pictures of Stahl and his family.
Violi expressed her intentions to call on Luzerne County Detective Charles Balogh to testify about the social media activity, while Stahl’s defense attorney Edward Bezdecki argued further discussion of the Twitter account would provoke a “media circus.”
“There are a lot of victims in this case,” Bezdecki said. “He’s done nothing wrong other than what he was found guilty of.”
Vough chose not to allow the testimony as the alleged social media activity occurred prior to sentencing, and not while Stahl was incarcerated.
The judge said his decision Tuesday would be based on Stahl’s conduct in prison and whether Stahl met the requirements for release.
However, Vough assured Stahl he will not tolerate similar internet or social media activity which can be traced back to Stahl “in any way.”
If Stahl has any contact with the victim in the case, via a third party or otherwise, Vough said Stahl will serve the remainder of his sentence in prison.
“I will max you out,” Vough said. “That’s not a threat, that’s a promise.”
Vough in August denied Stahl’s request to file a late appeal after the man argued circumstances beyond his control — including an alleged inability to contact the county Office of the Public Defender — prevented him from filing appeal documents on time.
Stahl currently is appealing the judge’s decision denying his appeal.