Jim White, former coach at Solon and Clear Creek Amana, accused of sexually abusing student

Gazette - 8/1/2022

Aug. 1—James "Jim" White, a former softball coach at Solon High School and Clear Creek Amana High School, was arrested Sunday on charges that he sexually abused a student 15 years ago.

White, 58, is charged with two counts of third-degree sexual abuse and two counts of sexual exploitation by a school employee. He is being held in the Johnson County Jail on a $40,000 bond.

A woman, who was student of his during the 2006-07 school year and was coached by him on the Clear Creek Amana softball team, went to police in March to report the abuse, according to criminal complaints.

The woman, who was 15 when White was her teacher and coach, told police she was groomed by White and they had a sexual relationship. She described incidents that happened between her and White that indicate he "engaged in a pattern, practice and/or scheme of sexual conduct," according to the complaints.

One instance of abuse happened when White, who was 43 at the time, called the 15-year-old and asked her to meet him on a gravel road in rural Johnson County, according to the complaints. He reportedly gave her directions and asked her not to hang up the phone the whole time she was on her way there.

In another instance, White reportedly invited her over to his house while his wife, who also was a high school softball coach, was out of town coaching in a state softball tournament.

A no-contact order has been filed on behalf of the woman.

Clear Creek Amana school district issues statement

The Clear Creek Amana Community School District released a statement Monday stating that the district is aware of the arrest and is fully cooperating with investigators.

"These actions are intolerable and not representative of CCA (Clear Creek Amana) High School or CCACSD (Clear Creek Amana Community School District) employee standards of conduct. Any allegations of improper behavior are taken seriously, thoroughly investigated and punished to the fullest extent of the law. We continue to work diligently to maintain a safe school environment for every student and staff member," the statement reads.

Named coach of the year in 2017

White worked as a teacher and softball coach at CCA for several years before he left in 2012 to coach at Solon High School. He coached softball at Solon until 2017, then returned as an assistant baseball coach for the 2021 and 2022 seasons. His contract at Solon ended earlier this summer, according to Solon School District Superintendent Davis Eidahl.

In 2017, White was named the National High School Coaches Association coach of the year.

Eidahl said there had not been any misconduct reports or school district investigations related to White during his time at Solon.

White also coached various sports at CCA High School and CCA Middle School during the last few years. He resigned from CCA in June, according to the school district.

Comments: (319) 398-8328; emily.andersen@thegazette.com

___

Visit The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) at thegazette.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.