Mo. hockey coach accused of molesting 6-year-old boy in ice skating rink
06/29/2023 11:59 am PDT
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. (TCD) -- A 41-year-old select hockey coach faces charges after allegedly molesting two different children between 2007 and 2021.
According to the Maryland Heights Police Department, investigators allege James Lambert committed child sex crimes against one victim at the Centene Ice Center in Maryland Heights between March 1, 2020, through Sept. 24, 2021.
KMOV-TV reports that Lambert allegedly committed the sex crimes when the boy was 6 and 7 years old, and he took photos of those explicit acts in the ice rink's bathroom.
Lambert allegedly sexually abused a second male in St. Charles County, who came forward when he was 22 years old.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the man told authorities Lambert sexually abused him from 2007 through 2018 when he was approximately 6 to 17 years old. Lambert allegedly brought the second victim to hockey games, practices, and sporting events around the country, where he would abuse him.
Court documents obtained by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch allege Lambert sodomized the second victim at least 50 times and would sometimes record the acts.
Lambert allegedly tried to make the acts feel normal, and he would threaten that something bad would happen if anyone found out about the sex crimes.
According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Lambert learned about the investigation and allegedly went to a relative's home in Illinois before officials arrested him.
Lambert reportedly worked as an assistant coach for Lindenwood University hockey, and he coached for the St. Peters Hockey and Chesterfield Hockey Association youth clubs.
In a statement obtained by KMOV, Lindenwood University said, "Lindenwood University became aware of this matter and have been in communication with the Lake St. Louis Police Department. The university has been informed that the charges do not involve Lindenwood University and that Lambert has no prior criminal history. Lambert was an assistant ACHA men’s hockey coach with Lindenwood’s club team and is no longer employed at Lindenwood."
Maryland Heights Police said Lambert is being held in the St. Louis County Jail and faces two counts of first-degree statutory sodomy and one count of sexual exploitation out of St. Louis County. Lambert also faces two counts of first-degree statutory sodomy and one count of first-degree child molestation out of St. Charles County.
His bond was reportedly set at $300,000 in St. Louis County and $250,000 in St. Charles County.
The investigation is ongoing.
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