Former coach gets 38 months for sexual abuse of players

A former West Salem High School girls' basketball coach who admitted to sexually abusing a student player was sentenced in Polk County Circuit Court on Monday to more than three years in an Oregon prison.

Emrance Berger, 31, received as part of a plea agreement, 38 months for pleading guilty to two counts of sex abuse of one player, and no contest to a third sex-abuse charge of a second victim.

Judge Sally Avera handed down the sentence, which is 10 months shy of the maximum time the prosecution was seeking for the abuse that occurred between 2007 and 2013.

Berger's attorney, Jason Thompson, urged the judge to remember that "the issue here is what is the appropriate sentence based on Berger's conduct." He noted that what is said on social media is beyond anyone's control.

He then read letters from Berger's family and friends offering employment, and financial and emotional support.

Berger then apologized for "making the biggest mistake of my life" in front of the victim and her family members gathered in the courtroom.

"I'm motivated to return to this community a reformed, tax-paying citizen," Berger said. "I've made a horrible mistake." " ..... I want you to know I'm willing to complete (sex offender treatment)."

But Avera told Berger that his admission to the crimes was an apology more about himself than the harm he inflicted on others, and that he'd had plenty of time to begin sex-offender treatment.

"It's not a mistake, it's a conscious choice," Avera said. "It's not inappropriate, it's criminal. It's abuse that will affect her and others in her family for many years to come. The degree of manipulation is reprehensible."

New details about Berger's pattern of abuse emerged during the sentencing. Polk County Deputy District Attorney Jayme Kimberly described Berger's pattern of predatory conduct in her arguments seeking the maximum agreed-to sentence of 48 months.

She said he "ingratiated himself," and became a family friend, and was even invited to a family wedding. Kimberly said Berger used that trust to get closer to the victim, "grooming and manipulating her."

Kimberly told the judge that Berger threatened to ruin the girl's life if she told anyone about the abuse, and he's made "good on that promise."

"She's been called a liar .... and has been blamed for the destruction of the West Salem High School basketball team. Her life has been ruined," Kimberly said. "He has minimized and justified his behavior and not once held himself accountable." She added that there were thousands of text messages from the victim, family members and other digital evidence to support the charges at trial.

Kimberly added that the victim has had to change schools, give up a sport she loves and watched her family become victimized.

The victim's father, in an emotional appeal to the judge, said the "scars of (the victim's) emotional and mental abuse continue to fester. The effects will last a lifetime. We ask the public and the media to respect the privacy of our family, and allow us the opportunity to heal."

He accused West Salem High School of "completely failing her" by ignoring repeated reports of Berger's behavior that lasted a seven-year "reign of terror."

"Were there signs and did we approach coaches? Yes," said the victim's mother. But coaches would come back and say Berger was a great guy. "I think the community should be thanking my daughter for coming forward and sparing daughters and granddaughters this same pain," she said.

A sibling told the judge that the victim "has been carrying a burden for the rest of the victims by coming forward. Don't let the fact he doesn't look the part fool you."

Berger, who was led from the courtroom in handcuffs, also faces five years of post prison supervision, is required to register as a sex offender, and must be evaluated for sex-offender treatment. He was also ordered to have no contact with females younger than 18, cannot coach females younger than 18, and will not be considered for leave or release programs while in prison. Eight other counts of sexual abuse against him were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

ccurrie@statesmanjournal.com; (503) 399-6746 or follow on Twitter at @CATMCurrie; lfosmire@statesmanjournal.com; (503) 399-6709 or follow on Twitter at @fosmirel.