PERRYSBURG, Ohio (WJW) — An Ohio school district is investigating how a 24-year-old suspect was able to enroll in its high school, allegedly posing as a teenage boy for more than a year and a half.
The suspect, identified in court records as 24-year-old Anthony E. Labrador-Sierra, even played on the school’s junior varsity soccer and swim teams, according to the school district.
Police in Perrysburg, Ohio, arrested Labrador-Sierra on Monday on felony charges of forgery, accusing him of using fake documents to enroll at and attend Perrysburg High School between Jan. 11, 2024, and May 14, according to a statement on the school district’s website.
Labrador-Sierra allegedly enrolled in the district as a 16-year-old unaccompanied minor, under federal and state rules for students experiencing homelessness or who do not have a legal guardian, according to the school district.
According to the district, he had obtained several pieces of identification that “further complicated the situation,” including an Ohio driver’s license and a federal Social Security number, and had also been issued Temporary Protected Status by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
The Wood County Juvenile Court had placed him in guardianship with a local family. That family learned May 14 that he was not a minor, but actually a 24-year-old man, according to the district.
District administrators met with Labrador-Sierra the following day, and he claimed the birth certificate he used to enroll was accurate and that he was 17 years old. He was barred from school grounds while the investigation continued.
School officials reviewed social media posts, including posts from people claiming to be Labrador-Sierra’s family members. They then contacted Perrysburg police, who began their own investigation, leading to Labrador-Sierra’s arrest on Monday.
School officials said the alleged fraud slipped past several federal, state and local agencies, and that the district had acted in accordance with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, which regulates education for students experiencing homelessness.
“While the deception was complex and far-reaching, Perrysburg Schools acted swiftly and appropriately once concerns were raised,” reads the district’s statement.
“What’s most heartbreaking is how many responded in good faith. Staff and local families offered support to someone they believed was a vulnerable teen. Their compassion reflects the best of our community. Though trust was violated, we remain proud of those who chose to help.”
Labrador-Sierra is now jailed on a $50,000 bond, court records show. If released, he won’t be able to leave the county. He’s due back in court for a preliminary hearing on May 29. A judge also issued a no-contact order.
The suspect’s athletic involvement was reported to the Ohio High School Athletics Association, according to the district.
NewsNation affiliate WJW reached out to Perrysburg police for more information on the investigation but did not receive a response prior to publication.