Sexual Misconduct

SOUTH BEND — A former freshman boy's basketball coach at Washington High School pleaded guilty Friday to two counts of sexual misconduct with a minor. Stephen Rokop worked in a special education classroom and was the freshman boys' team coach at Washington. He was accused of having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl. Rokop faces up to 23 years behind bars when he is sentenced in January.

SOUTH BEND - A 26-year-old man convicted of sexual misconduct with two 15-year-old girls has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Andrew West was charged in June with five felonies related to allegations that he engaged in sexual acts with the girls while he was working with the Mishawaka Department of Community Development. One of the victims alleged that some of the activity occurred in meeting rooms at Mishawaka City Hall. West pleaded guilty to Class B felony sexual misconduct with a minor and Class C felony sexual misconduct with a minor.

WARSAW - Police have arrested a Warsaw man for having an inappropriate relationship with a 14-year-old girl. On Monday, Warsaw police were called to the Super 8 motel on Frontage Rd. after the grandfather of the teenager walked in on a sexual encounter between his granddaughter and a 33-year-old family friend. The 33-year-old is identified as Christopher Allen, Jr. Officers interviewed the teen and found that on several occasions within the past month, Allen and the teen had sexual intercourse at various hotels and other locations in and around Warsaw.

LAPORTE — Prosecutors built a strong case against a former LaPorte High School coach. On Wednesday a jury found 46-year-old Robert Ashcraft of Fish Lake guilty of having sex with one of his volleyball players, a 15 year old at the time. As a coach for the Slicers volleyball team for at least two seasons, Robert Ashcraft was in a position of trust. But allegations of an inappropriate relationship with one of his players abused that trust. "With coaches and school teachers, you want to be able to trust them, not worry about that kind of thing," said Julie Buck, who lives in LaPorte and has followed the case.

NILES — The second day of a preliminary examination for a Niles teenager accused in a video sex case ended Friday after just 15 minutes and no decision on whether he will be binded over for trial. However, that didn’t stop emotions from spilling over during the high-profile case. Trey Nichols, 18, wept and pulled part of his green jumpsuit over his head as he was led out of Berrien County Trial Court by police. Several family members and friends also teared up at the sight of Nichols leaving.

A Niles police officer facing sexual misconduct charges will not be brought back as an assistant football coach at Niles High School. School district superintendent Richard Weigel confirms to WSBT-TV that Ivery Cross will not be rehired as a paid coach for the varsity team. Weigel also confirms Cross previously worked as a lunchroom security aid for Niles schools, but was not employed in that position at the time of his arrest. Cross is accused of criminal sexual misconduct with a male inmate at the Niles Justice Center.

SOUTH BEND — A judge on Wednesday ordered a 24-year-old South Bend man to spend 10 years in prison for having sex with a 15-year-old runaway in June. Freddy Barrera had pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct with a minor, a class B felony, and child exploitation, a class C felony. St. Joseph Superior Court Judge Roland Chamblee sentenced Barrera to 10 years in prison for the sexual misconduct charge and four years for child exploitation, to be served concurrently.

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (AP) - A soldier from New York faces sexual misconduct charges for allegedly having sex with and impregnating a 14-year-old southern Indiana girl. The News and Tribune of Jeffersonville reports (http://bit.ly/oqCfjT ) that 22-year-old Zackary Hartman of Watertown, N.Y., has been charged with two felony counts of sexual misconduct with a minor. Court documents state that Hartman and the girl met through Facebook and he allegedly had sex with her in April after traveling to Jeffersonville.

SOUTH BEND - A former Roseland Town Council candidate accused of molesting a young girl over several years pleaded guilty today to five criminal charges. Micheal Gillam Jr., 41, pleaded guilty to two counts of child molesting, both Class A felonies; two counts of sexual misconduct with a minor, both Class B felonies; and one count of child exploitation, a Class C felony. He faces a sentence of up to 140 years in prison. Gillam was facing 13 charges, but the state agreed to dismiss the remaining eight charges when Gillam is sentenced as part of his plea agreement.

BENTON HARBOR - The Benton Harbor Police Department faces a federal lawsuit from a sexual assault investigation involving a former officer. Court documents claim Jared Graves assaulted 25-year-old Dominique Allen on two separate occasions at the police station and that the incidents were caught on video surveillance. Graves was arrested last year and charged with criminal sexual conduct, but committed suicide earlier this month. The lawsuit claims that Graves had previously been investigated for sexual misconduct and that he should have been removed from the department.

WARSAW - Police have arrested a Warsaw man for having an inappropriate relationship with a 14-year-old girl. On Monday, Warsaw police were called to the Super 8 motel on Frontage Rd. after the grandfather of the teenager walked in on a sexual encounter between his granddaughter and a 33-year-old family friend. The 33-year-old is identified as Christopher Allen, Jr. Officers interviewed the teen and found that on several occasions within the past month, Allen and the teen had sexual intercourse at various hotels and other locations in and around Warsaw.

Police say a 29-year-old Argos woman was arrested Tuesday for sexual activity with a 15-year-old boy. In a release issued Thursday, the Plymouth Police Department said they received information about the crime on January 29. After locating the boy, he gave them details about sexual activity with 29-year-old Lisa Tincher. Tincher was found and arrested on February 5, say police. She admitted to sexual acts with the 15-year-old that happened in October of 2012. She was booked into Marshall County Jail for Sexual Misconduct with a Minor, a class B felony.

A 26-year-old Plymouth man was arrested Sunday after a 15-year-old reported sexual activity between the two of them to police. The 15-year-old made the report on July 13. After investigating, sexual misconduct charges were filed against Brock Biddle and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Biddle was arrested on September 2 and booked into Marshall County jail on $10,000 bond.

A lawsuit seeking roughly $19 million in damages was filed Thursday against the LaPorte Community School Cor. and two of its employees. It alleges LaPorte High School varsity volleyball coach Marybeth Lebo and Athletic Director Ed Gilliland knew junior varsity coach 46-year-old Robert Ashcraft was having sex with a 15-year-old player, but did not take action to stop it. Ashcraft was sentenced to 21 years in prison last July for...

BENTON HARBOR - The Benton Harbor Police Department faces a federal lawsuit from a sexual assault investigation involving a former officer. Court documents claim Jared Graves assaulted 25-year-old Dominique Allen on two separate occasions at the police station and that the incidents were caught on video surveillance. Graves was arrested last year and charged with criminal sexual conduct, but committed suicide earlier this month. The lawsuit claims that Graves had previously been investigated for sexual misconduct and that he should have been removed from the department.

MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) - A central Indiana pastor is facing trial on charges alleging that he sexually abused three teenage boys who were members of his congregation. The Star Press reports (http://tspne.ws/wkHUbP ) that a Delaware Circuit Court jury seated Monday was scheduled to begin hearing testimony Tuesday in the case against 55-year-old Matthew A. Kidd. The pastor of Freedom Point Apostolic Church faces charges of child molesting, sexual misconduct with a minor and vicarious sexual gratification.

SOUTH BEND - A 26-year-old man convicted of sexual misconduct with two 15-year-old girls has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Andrew West was charged in June with five felonies related to allegations that he engaged in sexual acts with the girls while he was working with the Mishawaka Department of Community Development. One of the victims alleged that some of the activity occurred in meeting rooms at Mishawaka City Hall. West pleaded guilty to Class B felony sexual misconduct with a minor and Class C felony sexual misconduct with a minor.

SOUTH BEND - A former Roseland Town Council candidate accused of molesting a young girl over several years pleaded guilty today to five criminal charges. Micheal Gillam Jr., 41, pleaded guilty to two counts of child molesting, both Class A felonies; two counts of sexual misconduct with a minor, both Class B felonies; and one count of child exploitation, a Class C felony. He faces a sentence of up to 140 years in prison. Gillam was facing 13 charges, but the state agreed to dismiss the remaining eight charges when Gillam is sentenced as part of his plea agreement.

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (AP) - A soldier from New York faces sexual misconduct charges for allegedly having sex with and impregnating a 14-year-old southern Indiana girl. The News and Tribune of Jeffersonville reports (http://bit.ly/oqCfjT ) that 22-year-old Zackary Hartman of Watertown, N.Y., has been charged with two felony counts of sexual misconduct with a minor. Court documents state that Hartman and the girl met through Facebook and he allegedly had sex with her in April after traveling to Jeffersonville.

LAPORTE — Prosecutors built a strong case against a former LaPorte High School coach. On Wednesday a jury found 46-year-old Robert Ashcraft of Fish Lake guilty of having sex with one of his volleyball players, a 15 year old at the time. As a coach for the Slicers volleyball team for at least two seasons, Robert Ashcraft was in a position of trust. But allegations of an inappropriate relationship with one of his players abused that trust. "With coaches and school teachers, you want to be able to trust them, not worry about that kind of thing," said Julie Buck, who lives in LaPorte and has followed the case.