In Richmond KY, a volunteer basketball coach is waiting his arraignment for a possible assault charge against one of the team’s players. Since December, David Harvey has been a volunteer coach for the Richmond Youth Sports League’s Timberwolves. While assisting his brother-in-law, who is the head coach of the boy’s team ranging from 12-14 years, Harvey was just considered another helpful hand on the team.
However, recently a 14-year-old team member came home from practice with a bruise on his right tricep, which made his parents start asking questions. The juvenile’s father, Roy Peters, alleged, “He choked him…He was all right, but he was upset about it. He had a great big, huge bruise.” The head coach was busy taking care of other matters, and did not witness the altercation.
As it turns out, Harvey was a non-compliant sex offender as well as had served a prison term for attempter murder. In 1995, he was convicted of second degree rape and first degree attempted murder involving the same incident. Upon conviction he was sentenced to a 15 year prison term, but 5 years later he was paroled and released from prison.
The RYSL never screened Harvey before he began volunteering as a coach. RYSL president, Jerry Brandenburg admitted, “We try to screen them…we just don’t have the manpower to do complete checks, which I guess we are going to have to start doing.” David Harvey’s arraignment is scheduled for Wednesday, March 28th. He is being charged with fourth-degree assault, a misdemeanor charge.
