Coach given $1,000 bond

After a warrant was issued on September 23 for the arrest of Leon A. Morales, 50, of Cincinnati, OH, he turned himself in at the Ripley County Jail on Tuesday, September 30, of this week at 7:03 a.m.

Morales was given a $1,000 bond by Judge Jeffrey Sharp in Ripley County Superior Court. He was also given a quick initial hearing after he turned himself in and was in court at 9:00 a.m. the same day.

Morales was charged with Battery of a Child, a level 6 felony, after police provided video of him shoving a football player (10-years-old) at Milan on September 6. The probable cause also said Morales picked the child up by his face mask. A lady (from the opposing team that Morales was coaching) reached out to The Versailles Republican saying Morales did not pick up the player by his face mask.

Ripley County Prosecutor Ric Hertel told The Versailles Republican that the video was, “pretty disturbing,” and didn’t take the situation lightly.

Morales was the coach for an opposing team at Milan. In court records it was noted that the president from that league said Morales was banned from coaching.

This story first broke in The Versailles Republican on September 25.

Editor’s Note: Those with criminal charges against them are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.