Attorney: Sex assault charges hinge on whether CT man was teens’ coach
The defense of a Connecticut man accused of sexually assaulting teen members of a basketball program founded by his fiance — a former WNBA player — will hinge on whether he was formally considered a coach who had “power” over them, his attorney said.
Danny Lawhorn, 30, of Hartford, is alleged by federal and state authorities to have sexually assaulted three female players while he was a coach for the Elite Amateur Athletic Union basketball program, court records show. The program was founded by his fiance, former WNBA player Bria Holmes.
State authorities charged Lawhorn with eight counts of second-degree sexual assault in June and October based on statements from three victims, according to arrest warrants.
Lawhorn’s attorney, Jon Schoenhorn, said two of the victims came forward after his client was charged in June with abusing a 17-yearold.
Holmes, a former New Haven basketball star who led Hillhouse High School to three straight state titles, was released from the Los Angeles Sparks in August, according to the team. Holmes, who is not alleged to have engaged in any wrongdoing and has not been charged with a crime, has not responded to messages seeking comment.
An arrest warrant obtained by East Hartford police charging Lawhorn with four counts of seconddegree sexual assault indicated that Holmes was his fiance.
The woman, who was under 18 when the alleged incidents occurred, filed a report with East Hartford police in September 2020 after learning Lawhorn had assaulted at least one other girl, the arrest warrant stated. The warrant wasn't signed by the Hartford State's Attorney until Oct. 5, 2021, the document said.
A Hartford judge has ordered Lawhorn to not coach, have contact with players under the age of 18 and not have any contact with people who coach players under the age of 18.
Under a charge of seconddegree sexual assault, state prosecutors would have to prove that Lawhorn was a coach who had control over the teens — all under the age of 18. The age of consent for sexual activity in Connecticut is 16. But state law makes it illegal for those in a position of power or control, such as teachers, coaches, medical professionals or correction officers, to have sex with their students, clients, patients or those they oversee.
State and federal investigators contend that Lawhorn used his position of power and control as their coach to get the teens to participate in sex acts dating back to 2017, court records said.
Lawhorn is also facing a federal charge of enticing a minor into sexual activity stemming from three voiceto-text messages, asking the 17-year-old on June 13 to give him a massage, court records show.
Lawhorn, a former college basketball player, also was found with crack cocaine when he was arrested in June and 300 wax paper sleeves of fentanyl when he tried to flee from the second arrest in October, court records show.
Based on the allegations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation created a web page on Oct. 19, asking any other alleged victims of Lawhorn to come forward.
But Schoenhorn argues the voice-to-text communications that led to the federal charge wasn’t a direct demand for sex and that Lawhorn didn’t qualify to be called a coach since he was unpaid and wasn’t formally involved in the basketball league.
“There is a quantitative as well as a qualitative difference between a teacher and a student or a prison guard and an inmate and an informal basketball program,” Schoenhorn said in an interview with Hearst Connecticut Media. “He had no power over these women, he didn’t get paid and he didn’t coach them within the meaning of that term.”
Schoenhorn is also challenging the enticing charge on the grounds that the content of the voice-to-text messages doesn’t fall under the category of enticing a minor into sexual activity.
“The allegation of what’s in the communication doesn’t fall under the definition,” Schoenhorn said. “The communication must be explicit.”
Investigators say otherwise, according to a federal criminal complaint filed on Oct. 7. According to the complaint, Lawhorn sent the voice-to-text messages to the 17-year-old in the earlymorning hours of June 13.
Lawhorn asked the girl for a “massage” because he claimed to have pulled his hamstring and groin, the complaint said. The girl was hesitant to agree, but “she didn’t feel comfortable saying no,” the complaint said.