Arlington Police in Virginia have charged a current Pitt County Public Schools teacher with various sex crimes that occurred between 2000-2003 when he coached basketball at a Virginia high school.

GEORGE PONCHA

Name: George Porcha
Age: 52
Charge: 1) Carnal Knowledge of a Minor, 2) Taking Indecent Liberties with Children (Charged by Arlington, VA Police)
Charge Type(s): 1) Class 4 Felony – 2-10 Years (Virginia Statutes), 2) Class 5 Felony – 1-10 Years (Virginia Statutes)
Arrest Date: Jan. 23, 2024

Victim /Case Details:

[Via the Arlington Police Department]

The Arlington County Police Department’s Special Victims Unit is investigating a former high school basketball coach charged with sexually-based offenses and is seeking possible additional victims. George Porcha, 52, of Winterville, NC is charged with Virginia Code § 18.2-63 Carnal Knowledge of a Minor and Virginia Code § 18.2-370 Taking Indecent Liberties with Children.

In October 2022, police initiated a comprehensive investigation after receiving information about possible offenses involving minors by Mr. Porcha that occurred between 2000 – 2003 when he was a girls basketball coach at Washington-Liberty High School (which was named Washington-Lee High School at the time). As a result of the investigation, warrants were issued in January 2024 for offenses involving two female victims who were juveniles and students at Washington-Liberty High School at the time of the incidents. Additional information regarding the investigation is restricted from release in accordance with Virginia Code § 19.2-11.2.

This remains an active criminal investigation. Anyone who has additional information related to this investigation or has had past inappropriate encounters with this suspect is asked to contact Detective P. Pena at 703-228-4183 or ppena@arlingtonva.us. Information may also be provided anonymously through the Arlington County Crime Solvers hotline at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).      

Bond Details: Unknown
District: Pitt County
Current Role: Exceptional children’s teacher at Ayden Middle School
History:  Worked at Ayden Middle School since Feb. 20, 2023
Employment status: Suspended without pay

Additional History:

• Over 25-year career as a basketball coach at high school and college levels.
• Assistant varsity coach at Washington-Liberty High School (1995 to 1999).
• Head coach for the varsity girls basketball team at Washington-Liberty (1999 to 2004).
• Named the 2001 National District Coach of the Year.
• Moved to Alexandria City High School (formerly T.C. Williams High School) as the girls basketball head coach for three years.
• Became an assistant coach at Virginia Tech for one year.
• Worked at West Virginia University as an associate head coach for five years.
• Head coach for the Woodbridge Senior High School boys basketball team in Lake Ridge, Virginia, for two years.
• Returned to college basketball in 2016 as an assistant coach for the Ole Miss women’s basketball team. (Stayed at Ole Miss 2 seasons).

Statement from District: No official statement has been released

NC Teacher License Information:

License Number: 1276695
Name: Porcha, George
License Type: Educator
License Status: Current
Expiration Date: 06/30/2027
Effective Date: 01/03/2023
License Area(s): Learning Disabled K-12, Business Information Technology Education

Updates:

License summarily suspended.