Zachary Gibson was found guilty by a Wood County jury Thursday evening on 17 felony charges: three counts of rape, three counts of gross sexual imposition, two counts of sexual battery, two counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material, six counts of pandering sexually-oriented matter Involving a minor, and one count of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles.
With all of the charges combined, Gibson faces a potential maximum penalty of 98½ years in prison, which could be extended to 104 years by Ohio’s Reagan Tokes law, according to Wood County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Dobson.
Gibson was also convicted of two counts of failure to comply with underage alcohol laws, which are misdemeanors. He was found not guilty on one count of importuning. Two other charges had been dismissed by the state before trial. The charges were handed down in two separate indictments by Wood County grand juries on June 15, 2022, and April 12, 2023.
Rape charges are felonies of the first degree, carrying maximum penalties of three to 11 years in prison. Gross sexual imposition charges are felonies of the fourth degree and carry a maximum prison term of one year to 18 months each, Pandering charges are felonies of the second degree carrying penalties of two to eight years in prison. Sexual battery charges are third degree felonies, carrying maximum prison sentences of one to five years.
The disseminating matter harmful to juveniles and illegal use of a minor charges are fifth degree felonies, each carrying penalties of six to 12 months in prison. Under Ohio law, sentences for misdemeanors must run concurrently, or at the same time, with felony sentences.
The charges relate to Gibson’s employment with Fastrak Performance, a fitness facility in Perrysburg. As part of Gibson’s employment, he assisted high school athletes as a strength and fitness coach. Prosecutors demonstrated that Gibson used that access to commit criminal acts with some of the students he was training.
Gibson has been out of custody on an electronic monitoring device since the trial was continued earlier this year. Upon his conviction and at the request of the prosecutors, Gibson’s bond was revoked and he was taken into custody.
“We are so very pleased that this Wood County jury recognized the truth behind the terrible, devastating acts of this person,” Dobson said. “He manipulated and violated the trust of parents and students – trust that parents and student athletes must place in their coaches – in the most damaging and predatory manner. I want to thank the work of the Wood County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation as well as Assistant Prosecutors Charles McDonald and Morgan Spitler from my staff who worked tirelessly to protect the public from the future destruction this person could cause. But, mostly, I want to thank the men and women of the public who courageously took the witness stand and endured questions regarding the painful and personal trauma committed against them. They demonstrated that our county and this world is filled far more with heroes – and they are heroes – than with villains. We intend to honor their courage by asking the court to impose a sentence which keeps Gibson locked away for decades to come.”
