A 21-year-old female lacrosse coach has been charged with felony illegal sexual contact with one of her 15-year-old players, leaving a small Michigan town in moral crisis.
As reported by Detroit ABC affiliate WXYZ, Lake Orion (Mich.) High girls lacrosse coach Reanna Douglas, a 21-year-old former high school player, was arrested and charged with Criminal Sexual Conduct in the third degree in connection with a relationship she allegedly had with one of her 15-year-old players while serving as the program's junior varsity coach during the 2012 season.
According to WXYZ, Douglas' contract with the Lake Orion School District was immediately terminated as soon as the accusations against her became public.
Though it remains undetermined how the relationship was discovered, the 21-year-old Auburn Hills native was reportedly turned in to police by the father of the 15-year-old involved, whose name will not be released to protect her identity.
For her part, Douglas -- who is currently a college senior in the Detroit area -- has not denied the relationship, but is attempting to avoid prosecution by showing that she was not overseeing her partner when the relationship took place, a technicality which might diminish the charges against her.
"She's known in the lacrosse community," Douglas' attorney, John Freeman, told WXYZ. "She used to play lacrosse. She may have worked out with the team and been at some of the practices of the team, but the idea that she was specifically a coach should be put to the side."
Douglas was released on a $15,000 personal bond after being charged, but she could face much more dire consquences in the near future. If convicted of third-degree criminal sexual conduct in Michigan, Douglas could be sentenced to 15 years in prison.
"[Douglas has] been terminated, and the school district is cooperating fully with law enforcement officials and their investigation," Lake Orion Superintendent Mary Ginopolis said in a statement released to the press. "Prior to the recent allegations, there were no indications or reports of unprofessional conduct."
In the meantime, Lake Orion will try to come to grips with the idea that one of the town's coaches had harbored a disturbing illicit relationship with one of her charges, all under the community's nose.
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