Sex offender volunteers with High school football team

A High school football team in Seattle suffered a shock recently, finding out that one of the volunteers who worked with the team turned out to be a sex offender. This was discovered only after two female students who served as managers to the team complained about inappropriate comments made to them. In yet another shocking example of those in authority not performing the necessary background checks, it was a lucky escape which could have turned out a lot worse. In a letter to the parents of those on the team, District Superintendent John Welch said the volunteer made an inappropriate comment at practice and the principal immediately escorted him off school grounds. District officials also discovered that he had not completed a criminal-background check as required. The individual was named as Lashawn Jamar Ferguson, 48, who was convicted of rape in 1998 and failed to register as a sex offender in 2008. He is being held without bail in King County Jail. It is important to perform such pre-employment background screening regardless of whether the position is paid or voluntary, especially when children are involved. As suggested, things could have ended up a lot worse at the High school – a risk that can easily be prevented by a background check.]]>