Alright, USA Swimming.
Yes, you should apologize. Step up the protection of
our youth and ban these idiots who think they can
get their jollies out on the youth of America.
Do not become like the catholic church and try to sweep
this BS under the rug. Take charge and accept the problems
and DEAL WITH IT!
Yeah, I don't know what a "normal" prison sentence is for something like that but I will say no one around here was complaining or trying to go-to-bat for him.
I knew this guy. He was also a public school teacher for awhile.
I think he was nailed because they were able to obtain actual footage of children he had taped on his computer. He sold the computer to a woman per e-bay but for some reason did not have all this stuff wiped off his hard drive. When she came upon it she turned him in complete with all the evidence.
yes, what this guy did was criminal and sleazy to say the least, but doesn't 33 years in federal prison seems a bit heavy..... or is it just me?
I agree with my hubby, but also think that USA-S should really clean house as I mentioned, and like Elise, get a real screening in place.
there are lots of small swim clubs out there with volunteer coaches. the certifications required now are already enough of a burden to deter lots of would be coaches and asst. coaches.
The criminal history check system seems to be working pretty well.
We do the same in my district - its a state requirement in fact. We had a former hs teacher, back in the 80's, that was pursuing a female student and ended up being fired and he lost his teaching license. He later applied as a bus driver for the company taht provides bus service to the district and we were able to cull him via the criminal offender information check. We had another more recent where the kids using their cell phones taped his "innocent" advances on this one student - the girl actually defended his fawning over her - and he was bounced as well. maybe the kids and their ease with technology help shine the light on these creeps.
That was, more-or-less, 20/20's intent I suspect. The written interview with Swimming World magazine put him in a bit different light. I doubt Wielgus was hired for his interview skills. It should be apparent he was going to look bad.
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It was apparent and 20/20 did what they set out to do....that is all. I don't know a thing about the guy, but he looked like an ass, which was 20/20's intention. Not sure why he would agree to an interview where you KNOW you are gonna get ambushed.
David- I've pretty well given up trying to make sense of relative sentences between courts in different levels and jurisdictions. As someone said, there was probably more to the story. Perhaps as well, the prosecution was lucky enough to get a judge who had a firm grip on reality...
Believe me technology is catching quite a few of these less than human beings. Preying on-line and texting can also make the predator the prey. Love it.
Wielgus might have looked much better on 20/20 if he hadn't been so defensive. How hard would it have been to say something like:
"Any abuse of children swimming for USAS registered clubs will be dealt with immediately by the club and by USAS cooperating with law enforcement to ensure that perpetrators are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Effective immediately we will begin assisting clubs with implementing the most thorough background checks possible. To the extent we failed to do so in the past, I apologize on behalf of USAS. That is all".
I don't know Wielgus from Moses, but he sounded bad, and the letter saying "parents are responsible" is BS. As a swimmer parent, I entrust the club - and its coaches - with my kids when they are at practice. So the coaches, the board, etc - and USAS - bear some responsibility. It's not like the kids were smoking dope in the locker room, or behind the 7-11 before workout (like we did...). That you cannot hold the club responsible for.
My hubby, a current police officer, made the comment, "Why are people looking for USA-S to police this, the police police this."
First, my sympathies to the victims and their families.
I wasn't going to jump into this, because I don't want to badmouth USA swimming because of the actions of a few, or make remarks that could be interpreted as insensitive towards the victims or families, but these are my thoughts as well. The police are the first place these people should have gone in my opinion, not to USA swimming. I read one story that USA swimming dismissed a complaint because the victim 'could not get another coach to corroborate it'. I think it is regrettable that that particular family did not go to the police.
I also think that Wielgus put his foot in his mouth about whether he owes an apology, but I think the point he was trying to make was that HE was not the perpetrator of any of these acts. Also I suspect that lawyers have advised the leadership of USA swimming not to make apologies because of how that could influence the inevitable litigation.
However the report did make Wielgus look like a complete tool representing US Swimming.
That was, more-or-less, 20/20's intent I suspect. The written interview with Swimming World magazine put him in a bit different light. I doubt Wielgus was hired for his interview skills. It should be apparent he was going to look bad.
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