Lawyer Comments: In section two of this article, youth sports sex abuse lawyer Kevin Biniazin discusses filing a lawsuit for sexual abuse by a swimming coach.
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested Valley swimming coach Nathan Moore this week for allegedly sexually abusing a teenage girl he was coaching. He is accused of sexual abuse and sexual conduct with a minor.
The girl’s parents contacted MCSO detectives in Anjalih after their daughter told them that she had and Moore had been in a sexual relationship while Moore was her swim coach.
Court documents say that the girl told detectives that Moore started coaching her when she was 13 and inappropriately touched her for the first time in the Scottsdale Lifetime Fitness pool area when she was 15.
Moore started coaching at the Anthem Community Center in 2018. According to court documents, he would drive the alleged victim to swim practice and would sexually abuse her at the Anthem Outlets parking lot before driving her home.
The alleged victim says that she and Moore first had sex when she was 16 years old. She says she ended the relationship at age 17.
The girl spoke with Moore in a call monitored by investigators and he allegedly acknowledged sexually abusing her when she was underage.
Moore has coached at various gyms, high schools, aquatic and community centers throughout the Valley. Detectives believe there may be more victims and have asked anyone with information to call the MCSO at 602-876-1011.
Kevin Biniazin is a sex abuse lawyer who has represented victims of sexual abuse by athletic coaches and others in positions of trust. We’ve asked Kevin to share some of his thoughts on the legal rights of swim coach sex abuse victims:
Sexual predators are often found in positions of trust that involve working with children, including youth sports. When a swim coach or another youth sports coach is charged with sexually abusing a child they were coaching, it’s important that the victim and their family are aware of their legal rights.
Reporting a predatory youth sports coach to law enforcement will lead to a criminal investigation and possible arrest of the suspect. But this is not always the only option available to victims. In some cases, youth sports sex abuse victims may also have grounds for a sex abuse lawsuit against the coach and possibly a negligent third party – such as the youth sports organization or facility where the abuse happened.
If you or your child is a victim of sexual abuse by a youth sports coach, you can learn more about your legal rights in a free consultation with one of our experienced sex abuse victims lawyers.