SOUTH FLORIDA TRACK AND FOOTBALL COACH ARRESTED FOR MOLESTING TEEN GIRL
According to court records, on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 Hollywood, Florida police arrested Jocques Jerrod Richardson, age 37, of West Park, when he showed up at the home of a 14-year-old girl for sex. Police say he is a "private endurance trainer for young athletes in South Florida" as well as a volunteer track and football coach.
According to police, the 14-year-old student athlete first met "Coach Joc" on Instagram about a year ago. She joined the Hallandale Beach Police Athletic League and by September 2019, their conversations "developed into a personal and intimate relationship."
According to law enforcement, Richardson is a volunteer football and track coach for athletes in several programs including Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory and Hallandale Beach's Police Athletic League. State records say he ran Liv ALittle Sports Apparel out of his West Park home for 19 months in 2018 and 2019.
The girl told police that in January, Richardson picked her up to stretch and took her to McArthur High School in Hollywood. According to the report, he massaged her inner groin area.
"The minor victim did not report this incident because she was afraid to make him mad," the affidavit read. "She explained if he was mad at her, it would effect [sic] her status on the team and possibly any future college scholarship."
According to the affidavit, Richardson's Instagram messages made the girl feel uncomfortable. In one conversation included in the report, Richardson repeatedly asked her if he could perform oral sex on her. When she asked him if it was illegal, he said the only way they would get caught, is if she said something. It was at that point, an undercover officer continued the conversation and arranged the meetup.
"You ready for this," he wrote. When he showed up at her house, he was arrested.
According to the police report, Richardson, "acknowledged knowing the victim is a minor and what he was doing was wrong especially because he was her mentor and coach."
Richardson, the father of two children, is facing multiple sex charges including two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation, one count of traveling to meet a minor for an illegal sex act, two counts of obscene communication to a solicit child for unlawful sex act and one count of offenses against students.
Police fear there could be more victims and ask for any additional victims to come forward.
It is expected that any institutions in which children learn and develop skills, offer an environment in which they are safe from violence, bullying, harassment, and sexual abuse. Athletic coaches are entrusted to facilitate learning and support the educational and training needs of their players. Anyone who sexually violates children has no place working in community or school athletic programs. Any organization in which such a crime is committed must take responsibility for failing to properly screen potential coaches and protect their players.
Horowitz Law is a law firm representing survivors of sexual abuse. If you or a loved one was sexually abused, assaulted, raped, or molested by a coach, principal, teacher or other other school employee, contact our law firm at 888-283-9922 or send an e-mail to sexual abuse lawyer Adam Horowitz at adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com for a free consultation.