Chambersburg Softball Coach Toby Phillip Celestino Charged with Sexual Assault

Image source: Toby Celestino, via Facebook.

Arrest and Charges

Toby Phillip Celestino, 37, is accused of sexually assaulting a player he coached.

According to court records, Celestino has been charged in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, with two felony counts of sexual assault by a sports official, two felony counts of corruption of minors, and one misdemeanor count of corruption of minors. The charges originate from conduct alleged to have occurred on September 8, 2020.

Celestino was arrested on August 15, 2025. His preliminary arraignment took place on August 18, 2025, and he was released on $50,000 unsecured bail. His preliminary hearing is set for September 15, 2025, before Judge David A. Washabaugh V.

The Allegations Against Celestino

The investigation began when the victim reported her abuse to Pennsylvania State Police in July of 2024. According to reporting by the Daily Voice, she disclosed that Celestino had sexually assaulted her between 2020 and 2021. She told investigators that she began playing with the Lady Renegades, a girl’s softball program based out of Chambersburg, PA, when she was 13. By the time she was 16, Celestino was her co-head coach/assistant coach. (Daily Voice)

The affidavit states that, when the girl was seventeen, she attended a gathering at Celestino’s Chambersburg residence. During that event, he made alcohol available to players, as well as his daughter. The victim reported that after consuming alcohol, she and Celestino kissed and then exchanged contact information on Snapchat. Sexual interactions “continued ‘throughout the next year.’” (Daily Voice)

Investigators noted that the reported sexual contact occurred at multiple sites, among them Celestino’s Chambersburg home, the parking lot of Fulton County Medical Center, and a roadside area near the Fort Littleton Turnpike exit. (Daily Voice)

The former player reported that sexual acts, excluding intercourse, took place while she was under eighteen.

The Lady Renegades have released a statement on Facebook, emphasizing that Celestino “has not been affiliated with the organization since 2022.”

The Lady Renegades’ Mission

The Lady Renegades, a nonprofit softball organization, promotes sportsmanship, teamwork, and dedication to the sport. They are described as being “[c]ommitted to creating a safe, positive environment.”

When a program emphasizes safety but fails to prevent abuse, it calls into question whether safeguards — such as oversight of coaches, reporting mechanisms, and clear boundaries between staff and players — were adequately enforced.

The Risk of Abuse in Youth Sports

Cases like this underscore the dangers young athletes can face when coaches are not properly supervised. Coaches hold a powerful role in the lives of young players, and when organizations fail to enforce strict boundaries, that authority can be misused in harmful and lasting ways.

Youth organizations and sports leagues have a legal duty to maintain safe environments by screening staff, monitoring interactions, and enforcing policies designed to protect children. When those safeguards are weak or even nonexistent, children can become vulnerable to grooming and abuse.

Justice Beyond the Criminal Case

While the criminal case will determine whether Celestino is held accountable under Pennsylvania law, survivors and their families may also pursue justice through civil action. Civil lawsuits can provide compensation to survivors for the harm they endured and push organizations to adopt stronger policies that prevent future abuse. These lawsuits can play a critical role in changing the culture of silence that often surrounds abuse in youth sports.