Former soccer coach indicted on teen sex charges

A Miami County grand jury has indicted a former area soccer coach on two felony counts of sexual battery involving a teenage girl between 2007 and 2010.

Jeff Walden, 45, of Knoxville, Tenn., initially was charged with one count of sexual battery, arraigned Dec. 2 and jailed in lieu of $200,000 bail.

The grand jury heard allegations against Walden and last week returned a superceding indictment that includes two felony sexual battery counts.

He is accused of sexual conduct with a girl beginning in 2007 when she was 15 and continuing through April 2011.

Detective Chris Tilley of the Troy Police Department said Walden coached traveling soccer teams for a number of years and also coached a Brookville schools team.

Walden, who previously lived in the Clayton/Englewood area, pleaded not guilty at his initial arraignment and is scheduled for a new arraignment Monday.

Defense lawyer Chris Bucio filed a request asking Common Pleas Judge Robert Lindeman to modify Walden's bond to a "more reasonable amount."

Bucio wrote in a motion that Walden has support of family, some who continue to live in the area and have rented him a local residence in Clayton while the criminal case is being resolved.

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