Jackson Center basketball coach accused of solicitation

A Jackson Center girls basketball coach was one of two men deputies in Allen County arrested for soliciting prostitution.

Sheriff Samuel Crish said about two weeks ago, his department conducted an investigation into suspected prostitution and other acts of illicit sexual activity in the county.

Authorities said on Aug. 24, around 5 p.m., an undercover investigation led to the arrest of Gregory Gooding, 57, of Jackson Center.

Gooding was charged with solicitation for prostitution. He was arrested at the EconoLodge in Lima, Ohio.

Gooding has turned in his resignation as basketball coach. He had been coaching at Jackson Center for 17 years and led the team to state titles in 1995 and 2001.

Crish said, "A lot of kids I'm sure look up to him and you make an arrest such as this, it just puts a black eye on those individuals that try to do the right thing."

Gooding is also the head of maintenance and was put on administrative leave during the investigations.

Kenneth Maag, 61, of Ottawa, Ohio, was also arrested at the EconoLodge and charged with solicitation. He is the mayor of the city of Ottawa.