AMHERST — A volunteer coach for the Amherst Regional High School’s varsity boys basketball team for the past two seasons has been arraigned in Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown on charges including rape of a child and posing a child in the nude.

Anthony Florio, 33, 740 Riverglade Drive, Apartment L, is being held at the Hampshire Jail and House of Correction after pleading innocent during a May 28 arraignment to charges of aggravated rape of a child, 10-year age difference, four counts of lascivious posing or exhibiting a child in the nude and malicious destruction of property over $250, according to court documents.

Florio was also arraigned May 9 on charges of distributing obscene matter, disseminating obscene matter to a minor and enticing a child under the age of 16.

The incidents allegedly occurred in Amherst on April 17, according to the court documents.

Bail was set at $5,000 following the first arraignment and $25,000 following the second arraignment, with conditions including no contact with the victim, no unsupervised contact with anyone under 16, except his own child and no overnights with anyone under 16.

Florio is scheduled to return to court July 27.

Following Florio’s arrest May 9, parents and guardians were notified by high school Principal Mark Jackson that Florio would not be allowed to participate in any district activities.

“He will no longer have a role with the team,” Jackson wrote in the message. “Nor will he be allowed in any of the district schools or on district property. It is our understanding that Mr. Florio is alleged to have engaged in inappropriate conduct with one of our students. The police investigation is ongoing.”

Police Chief Scott Livingstone said Friday that the investigation remains active.

Jackson wrote that Florio had undergone a criminal background check through the Criminal Offender Record Information system, as is customary for anyone with unsupervised access to high school students.

“I have informed the faculty and staff of this situation and, after school today, our athletic director, head basketball coach and I met with all of our current basketball players,” Jackson said.

School officials also intended to meet with parents and guardians of the players and have counselors available to all students.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.

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