Ex-Oakland Co. Basketball Coach Charged In Sexual Assault Of Teen Boys

FARMINGTON, MI — A disgraced Farmington High School basketball coach is facing charges after sexually assaulting two teen boys, according to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office.

Jeremy Thompkins, 43, of Detroit, was charged with second-degree criminal sexual conduct and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. He is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in the 36th District Court in Detroit.

If convicted of second-degree criminal sexual conduct, he faces up to 15 years in prison. The punishment for fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct is up to two years.

Prosecutors said Thompkins sexually assaulted a 15-year-old Farmington Hills boy and a 16-year-old Oak Park boy at his Detroit home in the 8500 block of Asbury Park Drive.

"We want to able to trust the people that we allow to coach, teach, and spend time with our children. Sometimes they are predators that betray and abuse that trust in unimaginable ways," Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said. "The evidence in this case will show that this defendant's alleged conduct violated his position of authority and harmed those he was supposed to guide and protect."

Last week, Farmington Public School officials fired four basketball coaches, including Thompson. Their investigation into the incident began on Oct. 9.

"The administrative team immediately began an investigation and by the end of the day, that coach was fired," District Superintendent Chris Delgado said. "The case was turned over to Detroit Police (where the former coach lives) under suspicion of sexual behavior directed from the coach toward a couple of players."

Delgado said district investigators determined that three other coaches in the school's basketball program knew that players visited Thompkins' Detroit home, violating the district's policy.

Moreover, those coaches never told school officials, Delgado said.

Officials said every member of the junior varsity basketball team was interviewed and that the district provided social emotional support for all the players.