RIPLEY, W.Va. A well-known figure in Jackson County and around the state in high school athletics has been arrested on multiple charges related to an inappropriate relationship with a female student.
Jackson County deputies arrested Steven Lough of Ripley at Friday night’s Ripley football game after the teenage girl came forward and made claims of the inappropriate relationship with Lough. Lough is the head trainer and Athletic Director for Ripley High School.
Investigators say the relationship developed with the 16-year old victim when she communicated with Lough regarding an injury. Jackson County Sheriff Ross Mellinger said the relationship progressed into an exchange of sexually explicit text messages, intimate photographs, and eventually multiple incidents of sexual contact on school property.
“It was much deeper than what we believed it would have been initially. It involved multiple occasions of actual sexual contact and misconduct there at the school during school hours in his classroom and in the A-D office,” said Mellinger.
The victim and her family came forward to the Sheriff’s department and allowed investigators to examine her phone which held evidence of the exchange of inappropriate text messages and pictures.
The teenager shared more with deputies about the depth of the relationship. The sexually explicit communications between the student and Lough, included an image of Lough’s genitalia that he illegally provided to the minor. Lough accompanied the image with messages stating, “this might help you” and “use it and enjoy it.”
According to the sheriff’s department, investigators also identified communications arranging meetings between Lough and the student in the athletic training room during school hours. The juvenile disclosed multiple sexual encounters occurred inside Lough’s training room and that another incident occurred in a classroom at Ripley High School. The most recent alleged encounter occurred last Saturday, October 31, 2026.
Mellinger said the situation rose to a level that Lough was taken into custody immediately.
“Mr. Lough was actually on the field and communicating with this victim during the football game. We jumped in and did what we needed to do and got him into custody quickly at the football game, brought him back to the office, and began the interview process there,” the Sheriff said.
Authorities said Lough admitted to sexual touching and other sexual acts on at least three separate occasions in the month of October with the teen. Deputies said in the interviews he also acknowledged exchanging the sexually explicit messages and pictures with the teen. He consented to allow deputies to examine his phone and extract information which they said corroborated the teen’s statements.
Lough is jailed on four felony charges. Those include three counts of prohibiting sexual intercourse, sexual intrusion, or sexual contact against students by school employees, and one felony count of use of obscene matter with intent to seduce a minor.
Jackson County Superintendent of Schools Will Hosaflook issued the following statement:
“Jackson County Schools is aware of the charges filed against health teacher, athletic director, and athletic trainer Steven Lough. Effective November 6, 2026, Steven Lough is no longer employed by Jackson County Schools.
School employees are individuals entrusted with one of our most precious responsibilities: the safety, well-being, and protection of our students. That trust carries an obligation that must never be compromised.
As a parent of a current high school student, my heart aches for the alleged victim and their family, for Mr. Lough’s family, and for our entire community.
I am angry, frustrated, and deeply hurt that someone I placed in a position of trust violated the fundamental responsibility and ethical standards of our profession. The safety of our students must always come first, and there is no responsibility more important.
Jackson County Schools will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement and all appropriate agencies throughout this investigation. We remain committed to protecting our students and supporting our school community.”
Lough is a well known figure not only in Jackson County, but throughout the state among athletic circles. He’s typically on hand as a trainer for most WVSSAC championship events.
Mellinger feared there were more victims.
“When this investigation reveals full bore sexual activity, it does pose the question are there other incidents and other individuals over the years. If there are other people, other girls or students past or present that may have been involved in something like this, we’d like to hear from them. We want to encourage people to come forward and we want them to know we believe them. It would not surprise me if there are other victims just based on the level of this misconduct,” said Mellinger.