"Courtemarche, 78, now faces shocking allegations which, if proven, will upend and overshadow the legacy he leaves behind after three decades of coaching in the region. According to a criminal complaint filed by the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office on Jan. 16, Courtemarche faces one felony count of possessing obscene images of minors. According to the arrest affidavit, a device in his possession contained over 1,000 files of child sexual abuse material, or CSAM."
"The allegations, against a figure long revered - and for whom the Panthers' running track was named in 2022 - left Courtemarche's peers and former runners blindsided and, in some cases, badly shaken. The revelations have also raised questions about what Santa Rosa City Schools officials knew, when they knew it, and why officials opted not to issue any public alert about the felony charge pending against the legendary ex-coach."
"Santa Rosa City Schools leaders say they were first notified of a law enforcement investigation into Courtemarche in July, but that authorities did not share what the investigation was about at that time. "We were very clear with California Highway Patrol in asking if there is any possible chance that (the investigation) involved any of our students and it was an emphatic 'no,'" Vicki Zands, the district's personnel chief, said on Tuesday morning."
Doug Courtemarche coached track and cross-country at Santa Rosa High for 27 years and told athletes to leave their troubles behind when entering Panther Territory. The school's running track was named for him in 2022. Courtemarche, 78, now faces a felony count alleging possession of obscene images of minors after an arrest affidavit said a device in his possession contained over 1,000 CSAM files. Peers and former runners said they were blindsided and shaken. Questions arose about what Santa Rosa City Schools officials knew and why no public alert was issued. District leaders say they were notified of an investigation in July and were told authorities indicated no students were involved; the district declined to rehire him as an at-will employee.
#child-sexual-abuse-material #high-school-athletics #sexual-abuse-allegations #school-administration
Read at The Mercury News
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