That's why their female players didn't feel comfortable coming forward."īertolette told the Coloradoan on Thursday that he cooperated with investigators in every step of the process. "That's why their female coaches didn't feel comfortable coming forward. "This is all a part of a pattern that Integrity Sports allowed to go on," Duhon said. He couldn't feel worse."ĭuhon said Integrity Sports "shares some blame in this case," and accused the staff of obstructing the Windsor police investigation and making Hughes feel "protected."
"My client does admit this was not right," Fischer said. Hughes' attorney Erik Fischer said Hughes started treatment on his own and has been in therapy for months, which shows how he is taking responsibility. In a statement to McDonald, Hughes said he wanted to apologize to the victims, their families and anyone else hurt by his actions and that he hopes therapy and treatment will help him. 'Don't assume you're immune': Thefts from vehicles at trails, parks spike in summer There's no gray area for adults and children," Duhon said. "There's no gray area for coaches and players. "It took me a while to realize I have a voice and now I'm using it," she said.ĭeputy District Attorney Amanda Duhon said Hughes admitted to some of the allegations but continues to minimize what happened, including in a call with one of the victim's parents before police were involved where Hughes reportedly said his actions were in a "gray area." But she decided to speak up "to stop Terel from hurting others and to get justice." When she did speak up, she said she found that "all my fears were completely valid."Īfter reporting the abuse to police, she stopped playing basketball, was ostracized by her friends and teammates and was called a liar and other cruel names, she told McDonald. She said she didn't want to speak up in part because she was afraid of how her teammates, friends and others would react. She told the judge Hughes assaulted her on multiple occasions in multiple places, including at Integrity Sports Arena, in his car and in her bedroom when her parents were not home. In a statement to the court Thursday, the first victim to report to police said that basketball used to be a source of joy, direction and stability in her life, but that was robbed from her when her coach - Hughes - manipulated her and used his position of trust to sexually abuse her.
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2, 2021, and immediately suspended Hughes and reported the allegations to police.īetween January and April 2021, while the incident was under investigation, Hughes continued to work remotely as the tournament and league director for Integrity Sports Arena, with no access to the facility and only contact with adults, according to the statement. In that statement, Bertolette said he found out about these allegations Jan. Integrity Sports Arena owner Marty Bertolette said in a previous statement that Hughes was fired after his arrest. Hughes was arrested in April 2021 for sexually assaulting a teen girl and inappropriately touching another teen while working as their basketball coach at Integrity Sports Arena in Windsor. He is barred from accessing the internet, sexually explicit material, social media, vision-enhancing devices and drugs or alcohol while on probation, and he cannot contact anyone under the age of 18, McDonald said.
Hughes will also be required to register as a sex offender and complete sex offender treatment.