Ref, ex-con accused of juvenile rape
Troy man’s officiating license is revoked for a second time.
A Troy man accused of raping a juvenile is no longer eligible to officiate after the Ohio High School Athletic Association suspended his license after his arrest earlier this month, an OHSAA spokesman said Tuesday.
Henry Lucas Jr., 52, was arrested June 5 after he turned himself in to Troy police, according to an affidavit filed in Miami County Municipal Court. Lucas is charged with a felony count of rape, and he made an initial appearance in court June 6, where his bond was set at $400,000, according to court records. The victim is known to Lucas.
A call to his lawyer seeking comments has not been returned.
Lucas’ license was previously suspended in 2011 after he was convicted on a felony drug charge and sentenced to prison in September 2010, the OHSAA said.
The OHSAA initially approved Lucas’ officiating license in 2001, and he was listed as having an active license until Aug. 1, 2011, when the athletic association first suspended it, said Ben Ferree, assistant director of officiating and sport management for OHSAA.
“We do not believe he was officiating after his September 2010 conviction,” Ferree said.
On Sept. 2, 2010, Lucas was convicted for using deception to obtain an illegal drug and was sentenced to a year in the London Correctional Institution, according to court records.
Lucas was released from prison on Aug. 26, 2011, according to a spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.
Ferree said Lucas, who officiated football and basketball, appealed the suspension of his license following his drug conviction.
According to the OHSAA handbook for officials, an officiating permit will not be issued or reinstated for anyone convicted in regard to any felony offense unless/ until such offense has been reversed by proper authority.
Ferree said, “People with convictions on their record that would be denied per the handbook can appeal to obtain a license.”
Lucas’ permit was rein- stated in October 2012 based on an appeal to the OHSAA board of directors, Ferree said. “The board approved his appeal based on multiple letters of recommendation from school personnel and community members in the Dayton area.”
This news organization inquired about the letters of recommendations OHSAA said they received, however, Ferree said, “I do not have copies in his file.” OHSAA also said they don’t share personnel files of officials.
“Additionally, everyone in the officiating department from that time has since retired. Since 2012 we have a new director of officiating, and all new support staff for that department. We do not know where the letters came from as we have never seen them personally,” Ferree said in an email.
Lucas waived a preliminary hearing in his felony rape case on June 17, and his case is pending a decision from a Miami County Grand Jury, according to court records.