RSSFormer Mabton coach pleads guilty to sex charges
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YAKIMA, Wash. -- A former Mabton High School girls basketball coach pleaded guilty Tuesday to having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old player on his team.
Michael Roettger, 32, was taken into custody at the Yakima County jail after entering the guilty plea in Superior Court to a charge of sexual misconduct with a minor. He admitted to having a sexual relationship with the girl during the 2007-08 basketball season.
Roettger was arrested in October and had originally entered a plea of not guilty.
In January of last year, the Mabton School District conducted an investigation of possible inappropriate involvement with a student, but school officials said Roettger was cleared of any wrongdoing at the time.
However, because of the investigation, he did not apply for renewal of his coaching contract after the basketball season ended in February 2008. He had coached the girls team for four seasons.
Roettger, who works as a foreman for a Lower Valley farm, was never a teacher in the Mabton School District.
District officials said law enforcement investigators received new information in September about Roettger’s relationship with the victim, leading to his arrest.
Sentencing is tentatively scheduled for April 8, pending completion of a presentence investigation.
Since Roettger has no previous felony convictions, the standard sentencing range for his crime is six to 12 months. He will have to register as a sex offender when he is released from jail.
The Yakima County Prosecutor’s Office agreed to recommend a six-month sentence in exchange for Roettger’s guilty plea.
And adult having a sexual relationship with a student and 6 months! That's all he gets! Oh wait...that's because he's non-hispanic so he gets less time....
Report ViolationWell, 1mgh, could you be profiling, or stereotyping? What gives the idea that Hispanics get more jail time than other ethnicities? Or are you inferring that it is better to be white than Hispanic, because Hispanics are getting a bum rap just because they are Hispanic? Maybe even, you are Hispanic and are using that incognito user name to promote the causes of the rest of the racist trouble makers who support all the macho BS they are about as they prance around demanding entitlements. Since he obviously isn't Hispanic, what's your point?
an example: I know of a 17 year old that has been having sex since the 5th grade, and is now a senior. After having 4 abortions, the first in the 6th grade, it was finally discovered the "father" was her uncle! She, and he are Hispanic, by the way. It was never prosecuted, but what kind of sentence should he get? Is there a difference here? I think so. In my opinion, he should be put away for life, but not because he is Hispanic. Yet, he likely would receive the same as this guy under the "guidelines" that judges must follow these days of more liberal mentality.
in some case studies, research shows that minories (non-whites) recieve stiffer sentences. and are more likely to spend jail time for their infractions compared to whites. Frankley im not trying to chose sides on this but that is info I have read.
On another note. I find it hard to believe that a dinky street drug dealer can get years in jail, but a sex offender can do 6 months and be out on the street again. I was in court a few months back and noticed that a man who was being charged with possesion of marijuana w/intent to deliver had a bail of $100,000 while an accused child molesters bail was set at $15,000.. I can t seem to make sense of it.
Oh give me a break Nick...profiling? lol that was funny. No, I was merely making an observation of how it really is. Am I referring that its better to be 'white'??? oh please!...what a stupid thing to say....you sure you're not a white cop too? Anyways...I am only commenting on what I read...and ForYourInfo is right about time is given less to child molesters than a person who is charged with possession of marijuana.... And lets get one thing straight NICK....I don't care what color anyone the child molester's skin is....if you mess with a child then you deserve the stiffest sentence allowable. I hate anyone who molests a child! I don't care if they are hispanic or non-hispanic....I'd hate them! Hispanics, Native American's, Blacks are all getting "burn raps" and yes, I've seen it happen...
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