Crime

Youth sports coach arrested by Roseville Police for ‘long-term’ sexual abuse of minor

James Brian Rhodes, 38, seen in a booking photo released Saturday, February 15, 2020, was arrested after Roseville Police detectives determined he had been having an unlawful sexual relationship with at least one minor on a Rancho Cordova-based youth team he coached.
James Brian Rhodes, 38, seen in a booking photo released Saturday, February 15, 2020, was arrested after Roseville Police detectives determined he had been having an unlawful sexual relationship with at least one minor on a Rancho Cordova-based youth team he coached. Roseville Police Department

A Roseville man was arrested Thursday and faces two dozen charges related to having sex with a minor after police determined he had been engaged in an unlawful sexual relationship with a player on a youth sports team he coached.

The Roseville Police Department arrested James Brian Rhodes, 38, “on multiple counts of having an unlawful sexual relationship with a minor,” department spokesman Rob Baquera said in an emailed statement.

Baquera said Rhodes was in a “long-term, inappropriate relationship with an underage member from a team he coached.”

Detectives have identified one juvenile victim but have not ruled out the possibility that others were sexually abused, Baquera said.

Baquera only identified the team Rhodes coached for as a youth sports team based out of Rancho Cordova.

Placer Superior Court records show Rhodes faces 24 felony counts related to sex with a minor: one charge of sexual penetration using a foreign object on a minor, one of oral copulation involving a minor, one sodomy involving a minor and 21 additional counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, all felonies. Rhodes is being held with no eligibility for bail.

The charges are dated from late March through early December of 2019, court records show. Rhodes was arrested on a warrant issued earlier Thursday.

“Due to the sensitive nature of this incident, no further details will be released at this time,” Baquera’s statement said. “This remains an ongoing investigation.”

Anyone with information about Rhodes, the incident or other potential victims is urged to contact the Roseville Police Department’s investigations unit at 916-746-1059.

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Michael McGough
The Sacramento Bee
Michael McGough is a sports and local editor for The Sacramento Bee. He previously covered breaking news and COVID-19 for The Bee, which he joined in 2016. He is a Sacramento native and graduate of Sacramento State. 
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