Volleyball coach Jason Maser, accused of raping teen, dies by suicide, MTA and lawyer say
Jason Maser is shown Friday after his arrest. Credit: Joseph Sperber
The Sacred Heart Academy high school volleyball coach charged with raping a 15-year-old player died by suicide Friday night when he stepped in front of a westbound Long Island Rail Road train near the Syosset station hours after being released on bail, MTA officials and his lawyer said.
Jason Maser, 22, of Syosset, was struck by the train at 10:35 p.m. near the Woodbury Road crossing just east of the station, where MTA police investigators declared him dead, according to Michael Cortez, a spokesman for the transit agency.
Investigators found a suicide note at the scene, he said.
Maser, a part-time coach at the Hempstead Catholic school, as well as a coach at the B&B Volleyball league in Albertson, was charged with two counts of third-degree rape and two counts of criminal sex act in addition to endangering the welfare of a child, according to the complaint.
He had raped the teen at least two times, on Feb. 7 and on March 7, while parked in his Jeep, according to police and the criminal complaint. B&B had fired him on Feb. 9, according to the league's lawyer, Oscar Michelen.
He was arraigned Friday morning and released on $75,000 bail. Judge Marie F. McCormack ordered him to stay away from the victim.
"The family is devastated for obvious reasons," said Maser's defense lawyer, John Carman. "While they process what has occurred, they are concerned for the young woman involved.”
Michelen said that news of Maser's death had circulated among club members.
"It's a horrible tragedy all around," he said.
