January 28, 2005

Ex-pastor and coach pleads no contest in 2003 sex case

SOUTHINGTON (CT)
Record-Journal

By Caroline D. Porter, Record-Journal Staff

SOUTHINGTON — James J. McCoy, a former youth pastor at Central Baptist Church and basketball coach at Central Christian Academy, has pleaded no contest to reduced sexual assault charges in a 2003 case.

In July 2003, McCoy, then 29, of 142 Armour Place, Murfreesboro, Tenn., turned himself in on a warrant for second-degree sexual assault, after a woman who had been on his team accused him of having had a sexual relationship with her between November 1998 and December 2000. The relationship allegedly started when the woman was 17.

Sources say he made a public confession of the improper relationship in the spring of 2001, and was asked to leave his post. The church doesn't deny that McCoy had a relationship with the victim, and says it handled the matter appropriately.

The church operates the school on its property at 1505 West St.

In late July 2003, McCoy pleaded not guilty to the charge in Bristol Superior Court.

Posted by kshaw at January 28, 2005 09:20 AM