Authorities allege that 60-year-old Ovidiu V. Dragos pursued a 15-year-old girl whom he was coaching for two years. He faces charges including stalking, harassment, and endangering the welfare of a child.
By Matt Skoufalos | February 26, 2024
A youth tennis coach whom police allege groomed a 15-year-old student over two years has been arrested after allegedly showing her a nude photo of himself.
Sixty-year-old Ovidiu V. Dragos of Moorestown, who coaches youth tennis in the community and at the Cherry Hill Health and Racquet Club, was arrested in Moorestown earlier today by the Camden Division of the U.S. Marshals NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force.
He has been remanded to the Camden County Jail pending a pretrial detention hearing.
According to the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office (CCPO), Dragos “placed numerous letters, cards, poems, and gifts” in the victim’s bag over two years of coaching her in the group classes at the Racquet Club, as well as in private lessons at outdoor courts in Cherry Hill, Cinnaminson, and Moorestown.
Dragos allegedly showed the victim his naked photograph via his cell phone “on two separate occasions” while she attended group tennis lessons at the club, the CCPO reported.
He faces multiple charges, including second-degree endangering the welfare of a child, third-degree promoting obscene material to a minor, fourth-degree stalking, and harassment.
Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact CCPO Special Victims Unit Det. Kristen Blantz (856-225-8642), Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office Det. Joshua Jenkins (609-845-2811), Cherry Hill Police Det. Gregory Brisbin (856-432-8830), or Moorestown Police Det. Ryan Carr (856-914-3037).
Tips can also be sent anonymously to CAMDEN.TIPS.
CORRECTION: Earlier reports mistakenly identified Ovidiu V. Dragos as a tennis coach at Moorestown High School. The Moorestown School District has since issued a statement that Dragos was never employed there in any capacity.
All individuals charged with crimes are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. An arrest is not a conviction.
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