The former head coach of an Arkansas swim club has been arrested on suspicion of sexual assault, per ArkansasOnline.com.
ArkansasOnline reports that Stephen Duwel was arrested on Monday and appeared in court for a bond hearing Tuesday morning.
Duwel was the head coach for Northwest Arkansas Aquatics, but has been suspended indefinitely from that role, according to the club’s president.
He also served as a volunteer coach for Bentonville High School.
According to the ArkansasOnline story, Duwel is accused of being in a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old boy. The boy allegedly met Duwel through an app, and the two exchanged phone numbers before eventually meeting in person.
ArkansasOnline reports that per the probable cause affidavit in the case, Duwel told police he thought the boy was 18 when they first made contact, but didn’t break off the relationship once he found out. The affidavit also includes text messages between the two in which the boy admits he is only in 8th grade, according to ArkansasOnline.
At this point, no official charges have been brought against Duwel, but he is under some bond restrictions. In addition to the $75,000 he’ll have to pay to be released from jail, Duwel cannot have contact with any minors (including the boy involved), and cannot use a computer, iPhone, or access the internet.
He’ll be arraigned in late August.
