Todd Phelps leans over to talk with supporters during a break in his trial.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – The alleged rape victim in the trial of former Pe Ell High School softball coach Todd Phelps took the witness stand yesterday.
She spoke of “the kiss” and answered numerous questions about herself and her interactions with her fast-pitch coach.
The now-17-year-old was not asked about the events that amounted to a third-degree rape charge; she is scheduled to continue testifying this morning.
Phelps, 52, is charged with rape as well as second-degree sexual misconduct with a minor in connection with encounters last spring and summer with the then-16-year-old student.
A jury of six women and six men are hearing the case in Lewis County Superior Court in Chehalis.
Jurors have already heard from a youth pastor’s wife and friends in whom the girl confided, as well as her parents, another coach and some who described inappropriate behavior on the part of Phelps.
All are witnesses for the prosecution. Phelps’ attorney has not yet called any witnesses.
The girl described the summer before her sophomore year as one in which she spent a great deal of time at the Phelps’ house. She and their daughters were friends and played on the softball team Phelps coached. She was close to his wife because they attended the same church, she said.
The teenager revealed under questioning that that autumn, her family sought help for her depression when they learned she had been cutting herself.
The following spring, when soft ball started up again and coach Phelps asked about it, she wanted to explain it to him, she testified.
He was driving her home after an outing to “scout” at a softball game in Adna, but he parked at the church in Pe Ell before dropping her off, she said.
He told her a story about an individual who’d gotten into an accident and said she was his second chance to help a teenager, the girl testified. And then he told her “lots of dirty stories” about sexual experiences in his past, she said.
Why? Deputy Prosecutor Will Halstead asked.
“He said it was to reassure me he wouldn’t tell my secrets,” she said.
“He told me he was going to text me, so he could make sure I was not cutting myself,” she said.
She went to his house a few days later, because he wanted to see the cuts on her legs, she testified.
He had her go into the bedroom and asked her to pull her pants down, she said.
The cuts were on the front of her upper thighs, she said.
“I started crying because I don’t show many people,” she said.
The girl testified Phelps said come here, and he hugged her.
And then he pulled her down on top of him on the bed, she said.
Then they went into the living room, she said.
After, as they texted each other, Phelps told her she shouldn’t be dating her boyfriend, because he’s also “a cutter”, she said under questioning.
On April 1, she finally broke up with her boyfriend, which left her crying and upset, according to the girl.
“Why did you do that,” Halstead asked.
“Because he told me to,” she said. “I felt like what he had to say was best. I thought I should just listen to him.”
The girl testified she confided to Phelps she then cut herself again.
The next day, Phelps drove her to his house and the first thing he said was, you know I’m going to have to see those cuts, she testified.
She said no, just hold on as she didn’t want to go in the bedroom again, because that scared her before, she said.
But they did and the same thing happened again, according to the girl. But this time, he also kissed her, many times, she said. And pressed his body against her, she said.
She said she was nervous and scared and didn’t want to be there anymore.
“Why didn’t you leave?” Halstead asked.
“He was important in my life,” she said. “I didn’t want him to think less of me.
The girl was asked about another day during the first week in April in which she spent the night at the Phelps, and she and one of his daughters slept on the couch.
“The next morning I wake up and he is kissing me on the lips,” she testified.
His daughter woke up, and “he points to his forehead, like, just on the forehead,” she said.
She didn’t want to tell anyone, because it meant both of them would be in trouble, she testified. But she did, the day after the second incident in the bedroom, she said.
She confided in Melodie Porter, the wife of the youth pastor at her church, she said.
“Why did you tell Melodie?” Halstead asked.
“I was really freaked out about it, and I didn’t know what to do about it,” she said.
Phelps, a log truck driver, resigned his assistant softball coach position at the end of April 2011.
His resignation came when the school district superintendent told him he had two choices after being investigated for violating boundary policies including texting the student, being alone with the student and “the kiss” Phelps said was on the forehead.
Third-degree rape carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. There is no allegation of physical force or violence.
Second-degree sexual misconduct with a minor is a gross misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of 364 days in jail.
If convicted, Phelps would be required to register as a sex offender.
He remains free on a $25,000 unsecured bond.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
High School should be the best time of your life with happy memories that you share with friends the rest of your life. This girl will have this cloud shadowing her memories the rest of her life. My heart just breaks for this girl, her sisters, her friends and her family and all the innocent victims. including Todds wife, kids and family who are in for a shock when the whole story comes out in court…
I wonder…… who is the first teen he supposedly, “helped?” And the dirty stories? There is always some truth in a good liar’s repertoire which is often why they’re so convincing. Too bad those girls, who are likely women now, couldn’t come forward and expose him even further.
Since you mentioned the constitution…. Thank God the constitution and the laws governing our state will give us the right to put Phelps in jail when he is found guilty you ridiculous excuse for an opinion.
Everyone should check out the article in the Chronicle. Testimony so far shows Phelps as a calculating sexual predator with poor impulse control and delusional self-awareness. The rational of his behavior fits right in line with several defenders posting to the various articles on this site. It gives a person the shivers knowing that you live among town folk who think that Phelps’ behavior was/is okay or that victim blaming is justifiable. Shame on anyone who tells us to keep quiet and let the courts handle it. You fool!!!!! How do you think this will ever be prevented in the future if the tricks and traps are not exposed. Or how school administrators are exposed if they bungled the mandatory reporting rules. Don’t you see if someone would have picked up the phone and reported this to the police in the early part of last year she would have never be raped? OH MY GOD I cannot believe some of the ignorance. Phelps’ arrogance is also shown how he “leans over and talks with supports.” The lack of empathy he had for this young woman and his own family is appalling. I am not a religious person but God bless all those he has hurt on both sides. Befriending and trying to seduce the victim in order to instill guilt so she doesn’t expose his crimes is so reprehensible. Especially if he was playing the opposite with the parents, school employees, his wife and church members. He must of thought he was really going to get away with this. I can only imagine how horrible the young woman feels. It is a psychological mind #uck that can take years to overcome. It also sounds like from the testimony that he really thought he was getting away with it by deleting all of the emails, texts, and fB chats. People that do that have something to hide. NEVER FORGET THAT!!!!! I looked at my phone and there are texts on there for the past year. If you have nothing to hide you would not delete them or ask the other person to delete them. When you think that something is just not right, look at the testimony of how he continued to contact her privately through her and other people’s accounts despite his life unraveling because his contact with her was inappropriate. Furthermore when that didn’t work how he used other people to try and get to her. That is where something is not right.
First Ammendment, simple as that!!!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/24/jerry-sandusky-psychologist-likely-pedophile_n_1377156.html
If this link doesn’t give you a clue there is no hope for you and children do not deserve to be in your care because they are in danger because of your ignorance.
Anyone that has encountered a “groomer” knows the lengths that they will go to, to present one persona to those he is hiding his true behavior from as opposed the persona he/she presents to their victim they are trying to control.
Judges here it in their court rooms everyday. It is very common. That is how they fool and lure their victims. I don’t know too many people who will fall for someone who looks creepy and says… hey can I rape you.
it is odd that he is accused of “grooming” this “victim”. Yet he had meetings with her parents at his house? with his wife there? and he told many others including school employees and other friends she was cutting and in trouble?
It just does not fit the grooming / alienation profile. Something is just not right here.
There has got to be much more to the story. Much, much more.
Let the trial do its job… find the truth… and go with it… Sad for everyone involved if he is innocent because he will be labeled forever.. and she too for being un truthful.. if he is guilty.. then shame on him.. and horay for her… but until the verdict is in…. dont pass judgement.. we arent qualified..
Ridiculous, people often cut themselves when they have a low self-esteem. People like you making fun of them doesn’t help, and can sometimes lead to more drastic things happening.
But then again, people who go around calling others “ATTENTION WHORE” are usually that very thing themselves….
Sharon, It is possible to delete comments like that? I noticed that you put up guidelines for posts on your FB page. Seriously…is it really okay to call at minor child a whore? Where can we draw the line?
I am in full support of everyone’s opinion but there is opinion and then there is just flat out hateful malicious spite that doesn’t add to the value or meaning of the discussions here. I am just throwing this out there for possible consideration.
Ridiculous – your comments have absolutely no value when you call a young woman a name like that. I just cannot tell you how foolish of a person you just made your self out to be.
How on earth could someone come on here and post things such as she an attention whore? That is just down right cold hearted and ignorant!! You are one of the people in this world that make girls/women not want to report sexual assaults. These things may have not happened to this girl but maybe they did. That is why there are juries! It makes very sick to my stomach to read that post! I hope the court system can get to the bottom of this as fast as they can so this girl can move on with her life, and get the help she needs.
I honestly think the girl us lying just to get attention just like the whole cutting herself. ATTENTION WHORE!!!!
yes
Sharon, are you working on another article concerning today’s testimony?
Waiting patiently for today’s happening’s. Grapevine is that Brother of Accused was a bit upset with his brother. had to be restrained. Truth could be setting in with the family. I hope the all can find peace when it is all over.
the choices were essentially quit or be fired …
I saw on another thread someone said she didn’t sound credible and was well rehearsed from the 10 second sound bit of her testimony on Kiro7. What a Crock. After hearing these details there doesn’t leave room for doubt that she is telling the truth. Him sharing the dirty stories is classic pedophile grooming move. The kiss on the lips and the jester to the daughter that it was on the forehead is so creepy. His poor daughters.
I didn’t catch what the two choices were given to Todd by the school. If they knew about the “kiss” isn’t every employee at the school a mandatory reporter? Shouldn’t have someone/anyone at the school, reported his actions immediately to law enforcement and not left it up to the parents? Isn’t a “kiss” considered sexual contact? If the administrators, counselors, head coach, and the school employees did not report his actions to the police who’s head should roll at the school for that one? If I sent my children to that school I would be demanding someone’s head on a platter immediately.
Who investigates the school administrators and staff for misconduct?
All I can say is She was 16 and He was 52 years old……Enough said. He has daughters her age, I wonder if he though of that
My heart goes out to this girl. She put her trust into this man she looked up to & he takes advantage of her! He needs to pay for this. This girl will never be the same.Here she already had issues & this profile defiles her! Sickens me!!