‘Wish I was 14 again’: Greenwood wrestling coach accused of sending nude photos to middle schooler

GREENWOOD, Ind. — A former wrestling coach at Greenwood Middle School has been officially charged after being accused of sending nude photos to a 14-year-old on Snapchat.

Elijah Ross, 22, was arrested earlier this year at the middle school after Greenwood police were made aware of the allegations against him. Ross was officially charged Monday in Johnson County Court with one count of dissemination of material harmful to a minor — a level 6 felony.

The charge stems from a police investigation that began on Jan. 30 when GPD officers were called to the school by faculty about a student being sent explicit images by a coach.

Officers met with school staff and a 14-year-old victim who said that an assistant wrestling coach had sent them a nude image of himself on Snapchat. The victim said Ross had added them on Snapchat months before and initially discussed wrestling before changing the conversation.

“(In December), Coach Eli began to talk about more than wrestling,” court docs read. “Coach Eli stated he ‘wished he was 14 again’ because he thought (the victim) was ‘cute’.”

The victim told police that Ross messaged them almost daily, asking and pressuring the 14-year-old to meet with him and “see him.” On Jan. 23, Ross reportedly asked the victim to sneak out of practice with him so they could “mess around.” The victim became scared, left school early and did not return until Jan. 29.

Despite this, court documents show that Ross sent the victim multiple Snapchat pictures on Jan. 27 portraying his face and nude body. The pictures’ captions reportedly asked the victim for sexual favors. The victim saved the images and was able to turn them over to police, docs show.

After speaking with the victim, officers were told that Ross had arrived at the school for wrestling practice. Police then detained Ross, took his cell phone and drove him to GPD headquarters for an interview.

After officers asked him about the allegations, Ross reportedly said that he had been drinking large amounts of alcohol recently which has affected his memory. When asked about whether he’d sent any children nude photos, Ross said he accidentally sent the victim pictures meant for his girlfriend.

When pressed further by police, Ross reportedly admitted that he purposely sent the 14-year-old nude photos. Court docs show that Ross said he was “horny” and “wanted to dirty talk” with the victim.

“Elijah (said he heard) rumors that the victim thought he was cute and wished he was younger,” court docs read. “Elijah admitted he should have stopped the conversation but didn’t. Elijah knew it was wrong to continue and regrets sending ‘explicit’ images to the victim.”

While speaking with police, Ross reportedly also admitted that he was friends with several female Greenwood High School wrestlers on Snapchat. However, Ross claimed he never had inappropriate conversations with them.

After the interview, Ross was detained and booked into Johnson County Jail on child sex crimes charges. On Monday, the Johnson County Prosecutor’s Office officially charged Ross with dissemination of material harmful to a minor.

Greenwood Community School Corporation referred to Ross as a “lay coach” in a statement sent in January:

“On January 30th, we learned that one of our lay coaches at Greenwood Middle School has been accused of having inappropriate communication with a student. We immediately contacted local law enforcement officials, who are conducting an investigation. The lay coach has been terminated effective Tuesday, January 30th. The safety and wellbeing of our students remains our top priority.”

Online court records show that Ross made an appearance Monday in Johnson County Court. A jury trial has not been scheduled yet in his case.