A 24-year-old man is facing felony charges after authorities say he posed as a teenager to enroll at Perrysburg High School, where he attended classes and participated in athletics for more than a year.
Anthony E. Labrador-Sierra was arrested Monday, May 19, and charged with forgery after allegedly using fraudulent documents to enroll in the school as a 16-year-old unaccompanied minor. According to Perrysburg Municipal Court records and a statement from the school district, Labrador-Sierra attended school from Jan. 11, 2024, to May 14, 2025.
While enrolled, he competed on the junior varsity soccer and swim teams.
The school district said Labrador-Sierra initially gained entry under federal and state protections for homeless youth without legal guardians, specifically the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Officials said he possessed multiple forms of identification — including an Ohio driver’s license, Social Security number, and Temporary Protected Status from U.S. immigration authorities — that added layers of complexity to the situation.
The Wood County Juvenile Court had placed him in the care of a Perrysburg family, which discovered on May 14 that he was not a minor. The district said administrators met with Labrador-Sierra the following day, and he claimed the documents were accurate and that he was 17 years old. He was banned from school property while the investigation continued.
District officials began reviewing social media posts, including ones from individuals claiming to be family members. They contacted Perrysburg police, leading to Labrador-Sierra’s arrest.
“While the deception was complex and far-reaching, Perrysburg Schools acted swiftly and appropriately once concerns were raised,” the district said in a 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.”
The district said the case slipped past multiple federal, state and local systems and has been reported to the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
Labrador-Sierra remains in the Wood County jail on a $50,000 bond. If released, he will be restricted to the county and is barred from contacting individuals involved in the case. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 29.
