Judge: Coach didn't violate order

A Hayden in-line skating coach will remain out of jail until his September trial after a judge on Thursday found he did not violate a no-contact order in a sexual abuse case.

Harold “Joe” Legault, 59, a former coach of CDA InlineRacing who was indicted for allegedly soliciting sex from a 15-year-old skater, told Senior Judge George Carey Thursday that despite attending an Aug. 3 skating event at the Spokane Convention Center he did not violate a no-contact order because he did not know the victim would be at the event, though her mother was a participant.

Legault said he stayed more than 100 feet away from the alleged victim.

“I only saw her mom across the rink,” Legault said.

The judge heard more than 30 minutes of testimony, including from the victim, who said Legault saw her and at one point stood within 40 feet of her. After reading a police report in which a witness said Legault was easily within the 100-foot boundary outlined in the no-contact order, Carey acknowledged the defendant had violated one part of the order.

“I think the evidence is very definitive that the defendant was within 100 feet of the victim, and violated the no-contact order, and violated a condition of bail,” Carey said.

But, the judge said, prosecutors did not prove that the violation was willful.

“I don’t think that the state has established willfulness, so I am not going to revoke bail at this point,” Carey said.

Deputy prosecutor Laura McClinton argued Legault knew that the victim traveled to her mother’s events and therefore knew the 15-year-old would be present at the national competition but went to the convention center regardless.

Defense attorney John Redal said whether his client knew the victim was at the convention center was speculative.

“Harold indicated he didn’t see her, and didn’t know she was at the event,” Redal said.

Legault was accused in December of soliciting sex from the skater when he was a club coach, and indicted by a grand jury in April, posting $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, and sanctioned by the U.S. Center for SafeSport, which overseas 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.

Legault was escorted from the Aug. 3 event by security guards.

Spokane police who investigated the incident said additional criminal charges could be filed against the former coach.

“The fact (that) he was violating the skating organizations 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.”

Carey scheduled a Tuesday pretrial conference in the case, ordered Legault to violate no more court orders and warned that Legault’s excuse was barely believable.

“I don’t think another judge is going to buy that a second time,” he said.