Former New Deal baseball coach charged with indecency with a child, attorney issues statement

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) - The Lubbock County Grand Jury has indicted a former New Deal baseball coach on a charge of indecency with a child. The Texas Rangers investigated Jason Ybarra, 33, earlier this year. His attorney has released a statement that Ybarra vigorously denies the allegations.

According to a document released Tuesday from Lubbock County grand jury, the date of the offense was January 13, 2021; however, the report from the Texas Rangers shows the alleged crime happened in 2010.

Ybarra resigned from his post at the school district in September. His letter of resignation did not explain why he was resigning. New Deal ISD Superintendent Matt Reed accepted the letter the same day.

According to a written statement from a Texas DPS spokesman, The Texas Rangers conducted interviews with current and former New Deal students before presenting their findings to the Lubbock County District Attorney.

Ybarra is not currently in jail.

The DPS did not release any other details of the accusation.

After Ybarra was indicted, the Lubbock County District Attorney’s Office released the indictment document and a redacted report from the Texas Rangers. The indictment states Jason Ybarra did then and there intentionally and knowingly engage in sexual contact with a child younger than 17 years of age.

The report shows on September 3, 2021, a victim came forward and sent an email to the superintendent of New Deal ISD saying in 2010, she was a high school student who was sexually assaulted by Ybarra, a current baseball coach.

The report shows Ybarra was a student at the school prior to becoming a coach. He was a student teacher in 2010 and 2011 and later a teacher’s aide from November 2011 until May 2012. Over the next few years, he then served as a teacher’s aide, a PE teacher, and an athletics coach. In 2014, he accepted the position as the head coach for the baseball team.

Jason Ybarra’s attorney, Chuck Lanehart, issued the following statement on December 1 in regard to his client’s indictment:

“Jason Ybarra vigorously denies the allegations contained in the indictment filed against him yesterday, November 30, 2021. He will enter a plea of not guilty and looks forward to his day in court.

“It should be noted that the date alleged in the indictment, January 13, 2021, is a ‘legal fiction:’ Jason is not accused of committing a crime in 2021. Texas law allows an indictment to allege any date of offense that falls within the statute of limitations, and there is no statute of limitations for the offense of indecency with a child. In reality, the allegation is 11 years old: the complainant told investigators this year the offense took place in 2010.

“Jason became aware of a complaint filed against him in advance of the indictment and turned himself into authorities. He posted bail in the amount of $50,000 on November 17 and was released.

“Again, Jason maintains his innocence.”