HOLLIDAYSBURG — A Dauphin County senior judge heard arguments Thursday morning regarding a motion for judgment of acquittal in the case against the former Bellwood-Antis School District wrestling coach who failed to keep fellow coach Ryan Blazier from unsupervised contact with students in 2019 and 2020.

Timothy Andrekovich, 60, was previously convicted on one felony count of endangering the welfare of children following a jury trial in early July and subsequently sentenced to three months to 23 months in prison on Aug. 25.

Senior Judge Richard A. Lewis, who presided over both Andrekovich’s jury trial and sentencing, also ordered Andrekovich to pay a $2,500 fine and complete 200 hours of community service.

During the hearing in Blair County court, defense attorney Todd Michael Mosser told Lewis, appearing via Zoom, that he wasn’t there to argue over the Commonwealth’s evidence and was “accepting it as true.”

Instead, Mosser focused on the extent of Andrekovich’s knowledge of Blazier’s actions. He said there was “no direct evidence (Andrekovich) violated his duty of care” at the school.

Mosser said that Andrekovich received notice from the state Department of Human Services about an investigation into a child abuse allegation against Blazier on Dec. 17, 2019.

A “safety plan” was then implemented while the investigation was underway to ensure Blazier didn’t have unsupervised access to students on school property.

Mosser argued that when one of Blazier’s victims was asked if he remembered what day an assault occurred, if it occurred after Dec. 17, the victim replied “I think so.”

There was “no evidence as to what day” that was, Mosser said.

Senior Deputy Attorney General Lauren Eichelberger, who prosecuted Andrekovich’s case alongside Julia van Leeuwen, told Lewis that a previously filed motion for acquittal had been denied and that “the trial transcript speaks for itself.”

She argued that Andrekovich was the overseer of the district’s wrestling program and that a parent had a conversation with him about why children were being left alone with Blazier.

Eichelberger said Andrekovich “didn’t even read the safety plan” so he couldn’t properly implement it. After the safety plan was put into place, Eichelberger said students reported seeing other students alone with Blazier.

“The safety plan applies to all students,” Eichelberger said.

In response to Eichelberger’s arguments, Mosser said she was expecting Andrekovich to be “responsible for all things at all times.”

“There’s literally no evidence,” Mosser said. “And the circumstantial evidence doesn’t add up.”

Eichelberger said regardless, the jury was the fact finder of the case and found those called to testify credible.

“This is not a vacuum of a case,” Eichelberger said. “The knowledge (Andrekovich) had prior to the safety plan” informed him how to move forward.

Following their arguments, Mosser brought up Andrekovich’s bail. He has remained free on $50,000 unsecured bail pending appeal.

Lewis asked Eichelberger for the Commonwealth’s position. She said that Andrekovich’s report date had been put off long enough and that he should be answering for his crime.

Lewis ultimately allowed Andrekovich to remain free pending the outcome of his appeal. He told Mosser and Eichelberger he would need to go over the case law cited before handing down his opinion.

A next court appearance for Andrekovich has not been scheduled.

Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor-Musselman is at 814-946-7458.