Former Manual football coach, 2 other Louisville men indicted on dozens of sex abuse charges

Editor’s Note:

The story below depicts situations of sexual abuse that may be graphic to some readers.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – A Jefferson County Grand Jury indicted 52 total criminal counts among three Louisville men, including Donnie Stoner, the former head football coach at duPont Manual High School.

Zachary Kilgore, Donnie Stoner and Ronnie Stoner were charged in the indictment.

Donnie Stoner, who was also a teacher, was charged in July 2023 with multiple counts of first-degree sex abuse, third-degree rape and third-degree sodomy. He pleaded not guilty.

He’s accused of having sex with the juvenile at his home multiple times while he was teaching and coaching at Manual from May to July of 2023. According to court documents, he picked up the girl and drove her to his home multiple times and abused her.

The police report claims Donnie Stoner also touched and kissed the 17-year-old juvenile while in his classroom in May 2023.

Ronnie Stoner was an assistant coach on the Manual staff with his brother, Donnie Stoner. In May 2022, Jefferson County Public Schools said it learned of an allegation from a former Newburg Middle School student who accused Ronnie Stoner of having sex with her during the 2016-17 school year. He denied the claim, and the district concluded the allegation was “unsubstantiated.”

JCPS said the only evidence provided was the original complaint and investigators weren’t able to interview the student despite “multiple requests.” The Louisville Metro Police Department said its investigation in that case cited “insufficient evidence.” JCPS said Ronnie Stoner returned to his regular job on Nov. 14, 2022.

According to a JCPS spokesperson on Friday, Donnie Stoner no longer works for the district, and Ronnie Stoner has been reassigned.

Alleged victims speak out

Whispers about Ronnie and Donnie Stoner swirled around sports circles in Louisville for years prior to these indictments.

Friday evening, hours after the indictments were made public, four of the alleged victims named in the case spoke about about their experiences and the charges against the three men.

Alexis Crook said Ronnie and Donnie Stoner were the coaches when she was a girl on the football team at Evangel Christian School in 2005. When she was 15 years old, the sexual encounters started and there were several instances over a few years.

According to court documents, in at least one of those instances Crook was raped by the Stoners and one of their close family friends, Zachary Kilgore — who is also charged in the case.

“I don’t feel relief yet. I feel a little bit of everything else though,” Crook said. “So I mostly feel happiness that there will be some bit of accountability with a 52-count indictment, it’s lengthy. I’m hoping we get the justice we deserve and that this never happens to another child.”

Alyssa Foster and Aryelle Stoner are also alleged victims. Aryelle Stoner is Ronnie Stoner’s daughter. She and Foster were classmates at Newburg Middle School and Fern Creek High School.

The now adult women said they did not know each other, or that they were both being molested by Ronnie Stoner at the same time. Foster said she was 13 when it started in 2016 and went on to 2017.

“It’s the first step of a long and overdue process,” said Foster. “We as women struggle and suffer in our own little ways every single day because of this, and so just to see it’s finally taken a step forward, I’m hopeful for the future.”

Aryelle Stoner said her abuse started with inappropriate touching in 2015 when she was 11 years old, lasting until 2021 when she ran away. She said she told police her father was forcing her to have sex, but the case never progressed.

“I think I’m not going to be fully happy or relieved until it’s done and they’re behind bars,” she said. “So I’m really just stuck, and I don’t know how to explain the feeling.”

The fourth alleged victim only goes by the name AJ. It’s the complaint that initially got Donnie Stoner charged in 2023. He’s accused of having sex with a 17-year-old student at Manual High School, where he coached football. AJ’s mother spoke anonymously Friday evening.

“Instances took place both inside the school and outside the school, and as soon as it was brought to my attention I called the authorities,” she said.

All four women say they were failed by many systems. Crook, who is now a doctor, even went directly to the school board and spoke during a public comment period. They believe the Stoners’ status as well-known football coaches in the community made people look the other way.

Two prior JCPS investigations into Ronnie Stoner were either inconclusive or unsubstantiated.

The charges in Friday’s indictment are below:

Donnie Stoner

Conspiracy to commit unlawful transaction with a minorFirst-degree rape — two countsUnlawful transaction with a minor — two countsThird-degree rape — nine countsThird-degree sodomy — 12 countsSexual abuse — eight countsTampering with physical evidence

Ronnie Stoner

Conspiracy to commit unlawful transaction with a minorUnlawful transaction with a minor — three countsFirst-degree rape — two countsThird-degree rape — six countsIncestSexual abuse — four countsSecond-degree sodomy — three countsSecond-degree rape — one countThird-degree sodomy — three counts

Zachary Kilgore

First-degree rape — two counts

This is the first time that Ronnie Stoner and Kilgore have faced charges in part of this investigation. Arrest warrants have also been issued for all three men, who are scheduled to be arraigned in court Monday, July 21.

According to court documents, Donnie Stoner has a jury trial scheduled for Nov. 18, 2025, on his original charges from 2023.

Former Manual football coach, 2 other Louisville men indicted on dozens of sex abuse charges | Crime Reports

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