TREYNOR, Iowa (AP) – An assistant high school basketball coach has denied that he choked a 7-year-old boy at the man’s residence in western Iowa. The Daily Nonpareil reports that Michael Doner is charged with assault causing injury. The 40-year-old is due back in court on July 9th. Doner’s attorney, Chad Primmer, told the newspaper that Doner “denies the allegations and looks forward to his day in court.”

Authorities say the boy was choked on May 21 at Doner’s home in Treynor. Pottawattamie County Sheriff Jeff Danker says that when authorities interviewed the boy, marks were found on his neck. Doner has told athletic officials at St. Albert Catholic Schools in Council Bluffs that he would not be part of the school’s boys basketball coaching staff this coming season.