UTICA (WWJ) - Disturbing details have been released as a former coach at Utica Eisenhower High School faces charges for alleged crimes involving a teenage girl.
The Macomb County Sheriff's Office says it' SET (Special Enforcement Team) Unit arrested 48-year-old David Willman of Chesterfield Township on Wednesday. The Macomb County Prosecutor's Office issued a two count warrant for Willman "regarding sexually explicit text messages."
The charges are Accosting a Child for Immoral Purposes, and Using a Computer to Commit a Crime. Both are felonies. The sheriff's office said Willman was arraigned Wednesday in 42-1 Romeo District Court and received a $150,000 bond, no 10%. He is scheduled to return for a probable cause conference on Jan. 14.
The charges come just over a month after WWJ Newsradio 950 learned that Willman was under investigation for allegedly sending sexually explicit text message to one of his players, and asking that she sext him back. The teen eventually showed the texts to her mother, who called police.
According to Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith, the victim was 14 years old the time of the alleged incidents.
Smith's office says police and prosecutors allege Willman, through different methods of communication over the course of a month, requested that the victim pose for nude photographs.
The defendant had sent "many" text messages to the student athlete, stating how much he trusted her, that he would help her, and that he wanted to send her nude photos of himself, according to investigators. Authorities further allege that Willman asked the girl what size her breasts are because he can't see her body sufficiently at practice, due to her uniform.
Smith's office said Willman later instructed the teen to delete his texts because he didn't want to get into trouble. He then went on to tell her he was simply trying to build her confidence.
Smith told WWJ's Sandra McNeill that Willman claimed he doesn't remember sending the inappropriate texts; and that he may have been drinking at the time.
"But the guy actually tells her to delete the text message that he sent," Smith said. "So he's well aware of what he did, despite what he says to the police."
Willman, who school officials said was contract employee who'd just recently started instructing the freshmen girl's basketball team, was terminated from his coaching jobs in December.
"Our office is beginning to see too many of these cases where a teacher or coach, in a position of authority, violates the trust of a vulnerable young person and attempts to groom them," said Smith. "This defendant not only violated the trust of his player, but that of the entire school and our community."
"As a father of two female student athletes and Prosecutor for Macomb County, I take this matter extremely seriously."
Eisenhower High School, located in Shelby Township, is in the Utica Community Schools district. In a separate case at the same school, former Eisenhower band director Christopher Traskal is facing charges for allegedly sexually assaulting a student.
