A former Mississippi high school basketball coach faces up to more than 100 years in prison for grooming and sexually abusing an underage student-athlete.
Willie Alexander Jr., who formerly served as an assistant coach at Clinton Christian School just outside of Jackson, pleaded guilty to sexual battery and child exploitation in connection with crimes he had committed against a 14-year-old pupil. Back in 2022, the victim’s mother reported to police that her son informed her of an inappropriate relationship with Alexander that had been ongoing for several months.
Alexander is reported to have showered the victim with gifts in order to coerce him into engaging in sexual activity with him. The teenager is also said to have traveled out of state with the coach on numerous occasions, and the two were planning a trip to Disney World together.
After the victim revealed all of this information to his mother, Alexander reportedly showed up at the family’s residence unexpectedly. There, he admitted to the victim’s mother that he taught the student how to use a condom.
Officials report that a search warrant was later executed at Alexander’s residence. Investigators at the scene found sex toys and multiple recording devices, including a hidden recording device that had been concealed inside a battery-operated air freshener. A van parked at the home also contained items for sexual activity.
“A coach should be a role model, not a predator. By speaking up, this child is a hero who helped bring an abuser to justice,” Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens said. “We will protect our children. We will protect our community, and we will hold abusers accountable.”
Alexander is scheduled to be sentenced on October 15.
