Inline coach may face new charges

A Hayden inline skating coach has been accused of violating a no-contact order just weeks before his trial on a charge of sexually abusing a minor.

Harold J. Legault’s jury trial in the sexual abuse case is scheduled for Sept. 3 in Coeur d’Alene. Prosecutors asked the court to revoke Legault’s bond last week.

“The state verifies that it appears the defendant has willfully violated the conditions of release by committing a new law violation and by violating a no-contact order,” deputy prosecutor Laura McClinton wrote in a request to the court.

Legault, 59, is accused of soliciting sex from a 15-year-old skater, based on witness accounts that allege he asked the teen to have sex with him in December.

Legault was indicted by a grand jury in April and posted $50,000 bail after his first court appearance. He was prohibited by a First District Court judge from being within 100 feet of the alleged victim.

Legault was also sanctioned by the U.S. Center for SafeSport, which oversees disciplinary records for the U.S. Olympic and Paraolympic organizations. The organization’s website lists Legault as suspended from attending any of its events pending criminal charges.

Witnesses however at an Aug. 3 event at the Spokane Convention Center saw the former coach watching the victim from near the judge’s booth and called authorities. Security guards escorted Legault from the building but he was not arrested, according to a Spokane County Police report.

A judge will decide Thursday whether to revoke Legault’s bond for violating the no-contact order.

Being in attendance at the Spokane event may also prompt another charge against Legault.

“The fact (that) he was violating the skating organization’s suspension and going to an event where the protected party was, can be construed as harassing or stalking the victim,” Officer Christopher Johnson of the Spokane Police wrote in a report. “The suspect lives in the same area as the victim, and the safety of the victim is paramount.”

Legault was the coach of CDA InlineRacing before his indictment and subsequent suspension by its governing body.