Ex-MLB Player Chad Curtis Sexual Assault Case

Case Details

Who: Chad Curtis — Former Major League Baseball outfielder (played 1992–2001 with six MLB teams, including the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers). Curtis was convicted of sexually assaulting a teenage student while serving as a high school coach in Ada. The case underscores the risks of abuse by authority figures in school athletics and the importance of accountability.

What Happened: Criminal Case

• While volunteering as a weight-room strength trainer and coach at Lakewood High School (Barry County, Michigan) after retiring from baseball, Curtis sexually assaulted three underage female students.

• He was charged with six counts of criminal sexual conduct related to the inappropriate touching of the girls (two aged 15 and one aged 16).

• In 2013, a Michigan jury found Curtis guilty on all counts. During sentencing, the judge labeled him a “predator.” Curtis denied wrongdoing and claimed the victims lied.

Civil Lawsuit

• The victims later filed a federal civil lawsuit against Lakewood Public Schools and Curtis, alleging inappropriate touching and a lack of protection by the district.

Results

Criminal Sentencing

• In October 2013, Curtis was sentenced to 7–15 years in prison.

• His convictions were upheld on appeal, and a request for re-sentencing was withdrawn.

• He was paroled in September 2020 after serving approximately seven years.

Civil Settlements

• All four women settled with Lakewood Public Schools and its Board of Education in Western Michigan for an undisclosed amount.

Impact

The case serves as a stark example of the abuse of authority by a trusted adult in a school setting, resulting in substantial criminal penalties, significant civil liability, and heightened scrutiny of institutional safeguards and supervisory failures involving the protection of minors.