HARRISBURG — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that the former head varsity wrestling coach of Bellwood Antis School District was convicted for his role in failing to adequately protect students after being notified of an investigation into sexual assault allegations against the district’s junior high wrestling coach, Ryan Blazier.
After a two-day trial, a Blair County jury convicted 59-year-old Timothy Andrekovich of guilty endangering the welfare of a child. The jury returned its verdict late Tuesday afternoon.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 25.
“As head wrestling coach, the defendant was supposed to be looking out for his wrestlers. Instead, when notified of a potential threat, he abdicated his responsibility to protect those students,” Attorney General Sunday said. “I am proud of the work from our investigators and prosecutors who were committed to ensure the defendant was held accountable for failing to protect students.”
According to testimony and evidence presented by the Office of Attorney General, Blazier was under investigation for child sexual abuse in December 2019. Andrekovich failed to adequately carry out a safety plan during the investigation into Blazier’s conduct, allowing Blazier to have continued unsupervised access to students.
Blazier was convicted of sexual assault and sentenced to decades in prison in June 2023.
This case was prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Julia van Leeuwen and Senior Deputy Attorney General Lauren Eichelberger of the Criminal Prosecutions Section.
# # #