WARSAW — A former teacher and football coach will spend six months in the Kosciusko County Jail for child seduction and 18 months on probation.
Whittaker is a former football coach and teacher for Triton School Corporation.
Zachary Mitchell Lewis Whittaker
, 33, 99 EMS D22 Lane, Syracuse, pled guilty to child seduction, a level 6 felony, on Thursday, June 5, in Kosciusko Superior Court One.
Zachary Mitchell Lewis Whittaker
His victim appeared at the sentencing.
“I’m here to make sure this never happens again,” the victim said in an impact statement.
“You lied to me and manipulated me for three years,” the victim said. They listed some of the long term effects of Whittaker’s actions on their life. The victim now needs medication for panic attacks and mental health therapy. The victim’s relationships with family and friends have been severely negatively impacted. The victim also fears seeing Whittaker everywhere they go.
The victim finished their statement, saying, “I don’t believe this sentencing is the most justified action for anyone.”
Deputy Prosecutor Joseph Sobek asked the court to place Whittaker in the Kosciusko County Jail and not to consider alternative placement due to the severity of Whittaker’s actions.
“This victim wasn’t victimized once, but heavily,” he said.
According to court documents, the victim spoke to police about their relationship with Whittaker on Nov. 23, 2024. Their relationship began after the victim watched his dog and they began texting each other.
They kept their relationship a secret and met up a few times during a summer prior to 2024. The victim “freaked out” when others accused them of having an inappropriate relationship and wanted to end their relationship, but the relationship continued and their interactions became even more secretive.
Their relationship eventually became sexual, with encounters happening in Whittaker’s home in Syracuse. The victim broke off the relationship with Whittaker.
Whittaker’s attorney Donald Schmid focused on the life circumstances of Whittaker at the time, saying that his depression was a mitigating factor. “He is beyond remorseful, he is shamed by his actions and choices,” he said.
Schmid said there is a very low chance that something like this would happen again and that Whittaker understands the gravity of what happened and what he did.
“Mr. Whittaker did not intend to harm (anyone), but harm resulted from his relationship with a vulnerable, younger person.”
Whittaker plans to join the Navy and become a chaplain to provide for his family and protect them. When thinking of his actions, he said, “I would like to apologize to (the victim) and (their) family, my family, and anyone hurt by my actions.” Whittaker quoted Philippians 3:13-14 from the Bible to close his statement.
Having accepted the plea agreement, Judge Karin McGrath reviewed the pre-sentencing investigative report and letters of support for Whittaker, with many mentioning his kindness, sincerity and care for others.
McGrath said while Whittaker’s interactions with the victim could be construed as a supportive adult caring for a child early in the relationship, his actions “could also be characterized as grooming this victim from a very young age.”
Whittaker’s attitude and commitment to his faith were praised by Schmid, saying his good character shows in how he has reacted since being charged with the crime. McGrath took a different view.
“You brought it upon yourself. Whatever tornado you’re experiencing over the last year, imagine the tornado surrounding your victim … it far outweighed your own,” she said.
McGrath concluded, “It may have started out as a mistake, but a repeated mistake is a decision. It’s a choice.”
The victim made no claims for restitution.
McGrath sentenced Whittaker to two years in the Kosciusko County Jail with six months of the time to be executed and the remainder suspended and spent in probation. Whittaker will have one day of jail time credit and he must pay $189 in court fees as well as the $500 fee for sex offenders.
McGrath imposed several rules for Whittaker’s probation, including a no contact order with the victim and no unsupervised contact with anyone under 18 years of age. Whittaker must also submit to a mental health evaluation at a licensed facility. He will be required to register as a sex offender.
Whittaker was immediately taken into custody.
