Court appearance coming today for ex-Sequim girls coach accused of improper behavior with teen
Published 12:01 am Friday, May 2, 2014
SEQUIM –– A former Sequim High School volunteer girls basketball coach accused of having a romantic relationship with a 15-year-old player will have his first appearance in Clallam County Superior Court this afternoon.
Jerry Jeff Pedersen, 28, of Sequim faces five counts of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes for having what court documents say was a “boyfriend and girlfriend” relationship with a player he coached last season.
Investigation by Sequim police allegedly found that the two exchanged nude pictures and sent daily text messages to each other between March 1 and 23.
Pedersen, a 2004 graduate of Sequim High, coached for the team on an unpaid volunteer basis.
He was arrested April 1 and released the next day. County prosecutors filed charges April 10.
He is scheduled to appear during Judge Erik Rohrer’s 1:30 p.m. criminal docket.
The charges are Class C felonies, the least serious type of felony.
Each one carries a maximum sentence of five years and fines of up to $10,000. Pedersen would also be required to register as a sex offender if convicted.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Joe Smillie can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or at jsmillie@peninsuladailynews.com.
