skip navigation

Former HS coach, teacher gets 15 years for sexual abuse of a minor

By World Exposure News Services, 01/31/20, 11:30AM CST

Share

A former Eagle High School basketball coach and teacher was sentenced Tuesday for sexual abuse of a minor after streaking a plea deal. 

Prosecutors dropped charges of rape, sexual battery on a child, sexual exploitation of a child and two counts of burglary after 32-year-old Jeff Ranstrom pleaded to one count of sexual battery on a child. 

Investigators say Ranstrom began targeting the girl when she was a freshman and had sex with her more than 100 times. The sex happened in his classroom, his home, his trailer for his lawn care business, and at the girl's parents home, including at times when the parents were home. 
 

Ranstrom, was an Eagle High grad, and replaced Alex Wells in 2017, whose contract was not renewed after three seasons with the Mustangs and a 28-35 record. Ranstrom played college basketball at Eastern Oregon and served as a graduate assistant there before returning to Eagle HS as a JV coach under Wells and Tom Seifert. 

He was the head coach for three years until resigning in September last year, according to a school district spokesperson. He also taught social studies at Eagle High School for six years.

 

Jeff Ranstrom, the Eagle boys basketball coach, who quit coaching and pondered never returning after he lost his son at just three and a half months old, took his Eagle team to its first state tournament appearance in seven years in 2019. 

Jeff Ranstrom was sentenced to 15 years with for years fixed and 11 indeterminate after. He could have been sentenced of up to life in prison.