Cops: Sex Offender Tried to Volunteer as Coach

A previously convicted sex offender was arrested on Monday and charged with attempting to serve in a youth organization as a sex offender, police said.

Christopher Demott, 36, of Jefferson Township, had volunteered to coach 5- and 6-year-olds in a township-sponsored recreational baseball program, police said. The Recreation Department’s routine check of all potential volunteers revealed that Demott had been convicted as a sex offender, police said.

Demott had been convicted in 1996 of criminal restraint. The original complaint provided by police said that Demott was in his vehicle on Weldon Rd. with a 16-year-old girl on June 12, 1995. Police said that Demott pulled over and demanded the girl perform oral sex on him, threatening to rape her if she didn't comply. He was arrested and charged with sexual assault, police said, adding that the charge was later reduced to criminal restraint.

The issue with sex offender laws, according to Jefferson Township Police Captain Eric Wilsusen, is that the police are prohibited from revealing to the public that a person has been convicted as a sex offender unless he or she is charged with another crime. Therefore, they were unable to reveal Demott’s status until he was charged with the current offense.

As the recreation baseball season had not yet started, the team postponed practices until Demott was arrested.

Demott was released pending a court appearance, but has been removed from coaching, police said.

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