Beach coach, facing child porn charges, released on bail

VIRGINIA BEACH

A Green Run High School girls volleyball coach charged with possessing child pornography was released on $1,500 bail Tuesday.

Michael Jablonski, 36, who teaches social studies at the school, told a judge at his hearing that he was molested as a child by a group of boys who tied him to a tree, said Larry Lockwood Jr., Jablonski's attorney.

Jablonski is charged with two counts of possessing child pornography, which Lockwood characterized as "either two images or two separate video clips."

Police seized 80 CDs and 68 VHS tapes earlier this month from Jablonski's apartment, according to a search warrant return. They also took a computer jump drive, cell phone, memory card and floppy disks.

Court documents did not detail what was stored on the items.

"While it's understandable parents may be concerned, they need not let their imaginations go wild," Lockwood said. "There's no evidence that he's ever done anything improper with any children, ever."

Jablonski is on unpaid leave, said a school representative, who added that no criminal behavior is alleged to have happened at school.

Police investigated on a tip from Jablonski's girlfriend, Lockwood said.

A preliminary hearing is set for June 6.

Aaron Applegate, (757) 222-5122, aaron.applegate@pilotonline.com