UPDATE @ 11:39 a.m. (May 13):
Former Southwest Soccer Club president and coach Justin K. Smith was released Friday from the Montgomery County Jail with no charges filed against him.
UPDATE @ 11:41 a.m.:
A former Southwest Soccer Club president and coach remained in jail Friday awaiting official charges after the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said he had a relationship with a player.
Justin K. Smith, 41, was arrested early Wednesday evening at his Germantown home and later booked on suspicion of sexual battery, jail records show.
Sheriff Phil Plummer said the female victim was under the age of 16 and was a player with the club.
Plummer said the victim’s parents alerted authorities to the relationship after they found communication between the girl and Smith on her phone and social media.
The relationship was said to have lasted about five months, Plummer said.
The sheriff added that the department has seen an uptick in these kind of cases with local adults in positions of authority accused or convicted of sex crimes involving children.
The sheriff’s office is meeting with the prosecutor’s office today for a review of formal charges against Smith.
INITIAL REPORT:
A former Southwest Soccer Club president and coach is jailed on a sex-related charge.
Justin K. Smith, 41, was arrested early Wednesday evening at his Germantown home and later booked on suspicion of sexual battery, though formal charges have not been filed, according to online Montgomery County Jail records.
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He was previously listed as a coach and president of the youth soccer club for boys and girls for 2017-18.
We reached out to Southwest Soccer Club board members through the email address listed on its website. Following is the statement provided by the board of directors:
"The situation involving Justin Smith is of great concern to Southwest Soccer Club. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement officials and will have additional information to share as allowed and as it becomes available. We regret the pain some individuals may be experiencing as a result of the recent allegations made regarding the conduct of a former coach and board member and we ask that you respect the privacy of the involved parties. We acted immediately upon learning of these allegations and in cooperation with an ongoing law enforcement investigation."
The soccer club is not affiliated with any schools, but Valley View High School Athletic Director Mark Kozarec said he knows Smith and called the allegations “shocking.”
To his knowledge, Smith has been involved in the youth soccer club for about 15 years. Kozarec said.
“The whole time I’ve known Justin, he’s been very professional,” Kozarec said.
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According to the soccer club’s website, youth ages 7 to 17 can participate.
We are working to learn more information about the allegations against Smith.
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