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According to KCTV, a former Northland High School football coach by the name of Joshua D. Hood has been indicted and charged in a new statutory rape case in Clay County.
Prior to this new statutory rape charge, the high school football coach pleaded guilty earlier this week to eight sex crimes including five counts of second-degree statutory sodomy, two counts of second-degree statutory rape, and one count of second-degree child molestation. All of which are associated with his time as a high school coach.
According to Missouri public court records, Joshua D. Hood, age 44, is charged with felony statutory rape of a person under the age of 14, in a situation that connects back to January 2010.
The former high school football coach received a five-year suspended sentence and probation. Should he violate probation, Joshua Hood could serve up to four years in prison.
In 2003-2004, Joshua D. Hood allegedly had multiple sexual encounters with a high school student under the age of 17; as a result, multiple sex crimes were filed by the Jackson County Prosecutor's Office, as announced by Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.
According to court records, in April 2020, the Missouri Highway Patrol opened an investigation into allegations from a victim.
The victim identified the offender as Joshua D. Hood and she told Missouri Highway Patrol investigators that Hood had engaged in sexual intercourse and other sexual acts when she was less than 17 years old
It is recorded that she had been the victim of sexual offenses at a variety of locations in Jackson County, MO, in 2003 and 2004.
The defendant was then a teacher and a coach at Holden High School and around 26 years old.
More recently, Joshua D. Hood has been a high school coach in the Park Hill School District. However, it is confirmed that Joshua D. Hood has surrendered his teaching certificate.
Attorney Reed Martens is an experienced sexual assault attorney with great trial experience representing sexual assault victims in civil lawsuits. Ryan Fraizer is well equipped to help any victim sexually assaulted by a football coach.
"Crimes of sexual assault are some the most heinous crimes one can commit against another. Unfortunately, schools can host predators who intentionally seek out vulnerable minors. Schools across America have a legal obligation to ensure a safe environment for all students. This should be achieved by attentive staff, background checks, security guards, and cameras."
"In a sexual assault civil lawsuit, if an institution has not provided a safe environment for its guests, it can be held liable for negligence. Accounts of negligence can include lack of accountability amongst faculty, victims sharing inappropriate behavior and the school not reporting it, and lack of safety measures. The events of sexual assault can be traumatic for victims, and while many may choose not to pursue legal action, sexual assault victims and their families need to know that they have the right to file a civil lawsuit in the case of negligence."
Sources:
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