Man jailed 10 days for sex offense plea

Helped coach high school band's drum line

Friday, Sept. 26, 2008

A judge sentenced Scott T. Strandberg Jr., 25, to one year in jail for the misdemeanor offense, suspended to the active term and five years of supervised probation.

Strandberg earlier was indicted in the case, on a charge that he sexually abused the girl last year in Leonardtown. The felony abuse charge was amended to the misdemeanor sexual offense at last week's plea hearing.

St. Mary's grand jurors identified Strandberg as a high school coach in the indictment filed after his arrest by St. Mary's detectives investigating the alleged incidents of sexual misconduct reported by the 16-year-old female student at Leonardtown High School.

Strandberg worked part time as a paid volunteer directing the drum line of the school's marching band, authorities said after the suspect's arrest, and detectives alleged the incidents occurred during a nighttime bus ride back to the school and at the suspect's home.

St. Mary's Circuit Judge Karen H. Abrams ordered last week that Strandberg have no contact with the student, no unsupervised contact with any girl and that he register as a sex offender.

Strandberg's lawyer has requested that the required sex offender registration eventually be lifted, and that Strandberg eventually be granted probation before judgment to clear his criminal record.

JOHN WHARTON