A longtime former Caribou High School tennis coach and teacher is dead three weeks after he pleaded not guilty to charges of unlawful sexual touching and assault of a minor.
John Habeeb, who was 61 when he died, is accused of sexually touching and assaulting the minor in 2023, when he was a teacher and tennis coach at the school. He pleaded not guilty to both counts on March 31 and waived his right to appear for an April 9 arraignment. He was set to appear in district court for a pre-trial hearing on May 14.
The case against him was dismissed Thursday as a result of his death, the Aroostook County district attorney’s office told the Bangor Daily News. Habeeb’s cause of death has not been released.
The alleged victim, who was born in 2007, disclosed the alleged sexual abuse in a January interview with a Child Advocacy Center, according to court documents. Video of the interview is sealed under a protective order. The Bangor Daily News does not identify victims of sexual abuse without their consent.
Habeeb posted $250 bail on Feb. 20, under the conditions of which he was barred from Caribou High School and from contact with the alleged victim.
He had taught at the school since 1988 and coached both the boys and girls tennis teams, where he recorded more than 400 wins and a combined 14 regional titles and seven state championships. He also served as the tennis director of the Caribou Parks and Recreation Department. Habeeb was inducted into the Maine Sports Legends’ Hall of Honors in 2018.
His last day of teaching at Caribou High School was Feb. 13, RSU 39 Superintendent Jane McCall said Thursday. Habeeb’s employment with the district ended in early April. McCall declined to disclose whether he resigned or was fired.
Habeeb’s attorney, Jon Goodman of Scarborough, did not respond to a request for comment.
Both charges against the former tennis coach were Class D misdemeanors that could have carried punishment of up to a year in jail and a $2,000 fine.
