Canton High School Ex-Coach To Face Trial On Sex Charges

CANTON, MI — A former Canton High School coach charged with sexual misconduct believed he was having an intimate relationship with a woman of age, according to his defense attorney. Eric Christopher Locke, 20, thought the teenage girl was 18 after meeting her on the dating website Tinder.

On Monday, Locke was bound over for trial on three counts of criminal sexual conduct after waiving his preliminary examination at 35th District Court in Plymouth, the Canton Observer reported. Locke, a Canton resident, remains free on a $500,000 personal bond. Defense attorney Raymond Cassar told the newspaper his client was misled by the 16-year-old girl about her age.

"He was under the belief when he met her that she was of age," Cassar said, according to the Observer report. "He cared a great deal about her. They were in a dating relationship. This is a good man who has never been in trouble before. He had a great future ahead of him. That future is on hold now."

If convicted, Locke could face up to 15 years in prison. Cassar vowed to fight the charges in Wayne County Circuit Court. Locke remains on a tether and is ordered to stay off school property and away from minors, including the 16-year-old girl.

A Canton High School Resource Officer received information earlier this year regarding a potential relationship between Locke, an assistant coach for the Canton High varsity hockey team, and the teen, according to Canton Police. A subsequent investigation led to Locke’s arrest in March.

Monica Merritt, Plymouth-Canton Community Schools district superintendent, issued a letter after Locke was charged to alert parents that Locke had been "permanently removed" from the district, saying "student safety remains the No. 1 priority of the district,” the Observer reported.

Locke was employed by the Plymouth-Canton Community Schools district through a third party, CoachEZ, LLC, which issued a statement saying student safety is of "extreme importance to us." The company also said Locke has been removed "from access to assignments in the schools we serve,” the Observer reported.

Photo courtesy of the Canton Police Department