Case advances against ex-coach charged with sex crimes against teen boys
The case against a Detroiter charged with sex crimes against two teen boys while he was a basketball coach at Farmington High School has advanced to Wayne County’s 3rd Judicial Court for possible trial. At a Nov. 13 hearing in 36th District Court, the case against Jerremy Thompkins was bound over to the higher court at the conclusion of a preliminary exam before Judge Kenneth King. At a preliminary exam, the judge is presented with evidence and decides if there’s probable cause for a case to continue.
Thompkins, 43, is charged with one count each of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. He’s accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old Farmington Hills boy and a 16-year-old Oak Park boy at his home in the 8500 block of Asbury Park Drive in Detroit.
It’s alleged the assaults happened from August to October of this year, and an investigation by the Detroit Police Department led to Thompkins’ arrest on Oct. 24.
Also at Monday’s hearing, the judge changed Thompkins’ bond. Initially, it was set at $250,000 personal bond — meaning no cash or surety had to be posted — and house arrest with electronic tehter. The bond is now $100,000 with a 10 percent provision, which required Thompkins to post $10,000 or be jailed. Monitoring by electronic tether continues.
Thompkins, Farmington High’s head coach Derrick McDowell and the rest of McDowell’s staff were fired last month after an internal investigation was launched into allegations of sexual misconduct at the home of a coaching staff member. Arraignment for Thompkins in the 3rd Circuit Court is scheduled for Nov. 20.