Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Police: Coach molested girl, 14
Hollywood man volunteered with youth football, track
A volunteer football and track coach is facing several sex charges for molesting a 14-year-old girl, Hollywood police said.
Jocques Jerrod Richardson, 37, of West Park, was arrested Wednesday when he showed up to pick up the teenager for sex, according to court records.
Richardson was known as “Coach Joc” and he volunteered with the Hallandale Beach Police Athletic League, Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory High School and several youth running clubs, investigators said.
The teenager is a student athlete who met Richardson on Instagram while looking for a trainer. She joined the Hallandale Beach PAL and by Sep
tember their conversations became more intimate, according to police.
In January, Richardson picked her up at her home and went to the MacArthur High School track to train. Afterward, he massaged her legs and touched her inappropriately, investigators said.
The girl didn’t tell anyone because she thought it would make Richardson mad and jeopardize her membership on the running team and any future scholarships.
On April 15, she reported it and Hollywood police and the FBI got involved. An undercover officer posing as the teenager continued the sexual conversations via a private Instagram account. Richardson repeatedly told her to delete their conversations so they couldn’t be traced.
Detectives also set up and recorded a phone call between the girl and Richardson who wanted to meet her for sex. When he arrived at the girl’s Hollywood home about 11:52 a.m. Wednesday, police were waiting.
During questioning, Richardson confessed to everything, investigators said.
He was booked into the Broward County Jail on charges that include lewd and lascivious molestation, travelling to meet a minor for an illegal sex act, obscene communication to solicit a child for an unlawful sex act, offenses against students by an authority figure, use of a child in a sexual performance, and driving on a suspended license.
At his initial court appearance Thursday, Richardson was ordered held on bonds totaling $205,000, records show.
Detectives are asking anyone who may have had inappropriate contact with Richardson to come forward and contact the Hollywood Police Department at 954- 764-4357 or 954-967-4411. Tipsters can e-mail or text to hollywoodpdtips@hollywoodfl.org. Anonymous tips can also be given to Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477 or browardcrimestoppers.org.