Serious Question

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If you knew for a fact that the wife of the head coach of a travel softball team was registered as a sexually oriented offender with the State of Ohio, would you tell anyone or just mind your business?

I was given this information last week and then confirmed it on the State of Ohio website for sexual offenders.

I am not trying to start trouble, but think if my daughter were on this team (she is not!), I would want to know.

Please post your thoughts.

Thanks!

 

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I would hope that someone would tell me if my daughter were on that team....then I could do some background checking on my own to see exactly what the situation was.

 

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I would hope that someone would have notified the whole team then it would be up to the parents on what to do in this situation.

 

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That is not a good situation. I guess if the wife was involved a lot with the team and activities it would be even more serious. It is sad that the coach would have to be punished for what his wife did.

If I was told that my daughter was on that particular team, I am not sure that I would pull her from the team, espeically if the coach was a good coach. However, I would be more careful with my daughter and what I would allow her to do with the team, and I would be at all team activities.

Another thing to consider is the reputation of the organization and to protect the players on the team. Is there a leader of the organization that you can talk to about this?

I am not trying to give advice--just throw some ideas out.

 

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I'd say research exactly what the case and circumstances against her were first and possibly talk to her and the coach about it. Years ago when I was involved in law enforcement it was not uncommon for prosecutors to coerce a guilty plea to lesser charges so they would drop more serious charges. I've seen many attorneys tell people who were probally not guilty of anything to take the pleas because you can't trust jurys.

 

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This is a tough question and the answer(s) may be tougher. I guess I have several questions that I would want to know the answers to.

Do the parents on the team know about this? If the players and parents have been involved with the team for several years - it may already be an issue discussed and handled by the coach and the parents.

Is she at the practices and games? She may be under orders to stay away for places where children congregate.

I also would want to know more about what she was charged with etc.

However, my first concern will always be the wellbeing of the players so that makes it very difficult to not do anything. This is really a tough question.

We have some legal professionals that post on this site. Maybe they can advise us of the legal side of this question.

 

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To me, this is a no brainer. I think you should yell it from the roof tops. I think that anyone that has had this type of charge brought agaisnt them should not have the priviledge of being around children at all. I know that the coach is not the offender, but I am sure that his wife is on the field as well. Good coach, bad coach, new team, old team, who gives a flying foul ball. This matter should be taken care of quickly and no one player or parent should be left in the dark from this team/organization, past or present. JMHO

 

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I feel that it is very important that as a parent, you should look into the charges and address the situation privately in a meeting with the wife, coach and the organization itself. If you feel unconvertible in doing so, ask another parent that you trust to help you with the situation.
Once you are satisfied with what you have learned, good or bad, the decision on what to do next will be very easy for you to make.

This is the procedure that we are taught in recognizing and dealing with sex offenders in the Parochial schools.

 

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Would you want someone to tell you if the shoe was on the other foot? ?You better beleive you would. ?Take action, do something now. ?
When it come to matters like this, is the offender's rights more important than the innocent, unknowing kids? ?Worst case, the offender is "outed", information that is public, other worst case, you do nothing and something terrible happens to a kid. ?

Come on...

Take action NOW>

 

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You need to tell. Flat out.

 

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Hit post before finished.

If she is around kids, she might also be near a school and may be in violation of probation. This in turn could get someone else in trouble for knowingly letting this person be within the 1000 feet of a school and not to say around the kids that have no idea.

I would want someone to tell me.

 

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Just a question-do you know what the charges were? Did they involve a minor? How old was she at the time? I have seen 18 y.o. get charged with things that were dating 17 y.o.? I believe that you should talk to someone on the team if you know anyone get the details-then make a decision on how this should be handled. Maybe this is something that has already been discussed with the parents. Get details then go from there-it is hard to answer this question without knowing more very important details.

 

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Catcher895 has made some good points. I think as parents we all would want to know, but a little more info is needed.

 

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Firestarter has the best advice...

Not to judge without first knowing all the facts, but if someone has gone this far through the legal process and been found guilty, there is probably a serious issue here. Don't let intuition and common sense fly out the window! Personally, I wouldn't hesitate for a second about bolting if I knew my kid was in this situation. What normal, sane parent wouldn't? I would pity the husband for having to deal with a sicko, but he has choices also.

 

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JMHO...I would assume that alot of your fall ball games and such are at school and think she wouldnt be aloud to attend those games. ?Also I would talk to your Organization President and find out your laws by city regarding this. ?Alot of offenders arent even allowed around kids. ?Then if no resolve you may go to your local PD and figure out your next step. ?BUT I would want to know.

Not to justify this persons actions-if true- but maybe if the coach-the offender-yourself and the directer can draw up something to inform the parents of her action and let the families choose.

EX...If my coaches wife was found guilty of statutory rape at age 18 because she was with a boy 17..this stays on her permanent record for awhile like 10 years+.. Does this offend me NO

So find out details before raising a rucus

 

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I would want to know, but I would want the facts and not just hearsay & speculation. Know the facts and then share them. If the parents are informed, they can make the decision they feel appropriate. It is very important not to insert your feelings into the facts, don't embellish. JMHO

 

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You can tell from the states website what the charge(s) were and go from there. You can go to the local sheriff's office and ask questions as to the charge(s) if you are still not clear. If it was something like an 18 year old with a 17 year old, the charge would be simple to understand.

I think a matter like this has many underlaying issues that might pop up. If all parents fell it is ok, then you have to think about weekend tournaments....etc.... etc.....

JMO: i still would want to know.

 

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wow that is a hard call.. i would like to see some of the members here who are in the law field to shed some light.
i have several questions before i could make a decision. my gut says TELL EVERYONE but without knowing details you can't.
i would find out as much as you can before you make that choice. Because once you do it can not be reversed. I would look into it quickly to so that if it needs to be told for the safety of the children it does before something happens.

my one question is..to be a registered sexual oriented offender does that have to mean a child was involved? I'm asking i am not sure?? and i'm not too sure it would matter one way or another in my opinion before telling. Just have to know the details to decide.

 

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^^^^^^ Checked in. SRO

 

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No a child does not need to be involved to be registered. There are several different things that can be charged that result in be a registered sex offender. I am not in the legal field but I am in childcare and know a tiny bit about the registry as I am always on there checking into who is living in our neighborhood. That is why I also said that specific details need to be known and that can determine how things are handled. I believe everyone has a right to know but if you are going to open up and say anything to anyone before everyone gets rattled you need to have all of the facts available to provide to the parents involved. I am not who I would start by saying anything to unless you know someone from that team. Very touchy situtation without knowing details. Do you know anyone who is reputable that has the details? I would check into court records (these should be public record-some online-depending on the county, etc) before saying anything. Besides the fact that like it has been said maybe the has nothing to do with the team.