JACKSON, MI – A Jackson-area coach accused of sexual contact with a 15-year-old girl has had his case bound over to circuit court.
Jerrell Sanders, 31, of Jackson, is charged with one felony count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct. He waived his right to a preliminary examination on Wednesday, Jan. 22, sending his case to circuit court before Jackson County Circuit Judge John McBain. His next court date is not yet scheduled.
The case is being prosecuted by the Michigan Attorney General’s Office because of a connection between the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office and the victim.
Sanders, a basketball standout from Grand Rapids who also played in college and the professional ranks, coached the alleged victim in travel basketball and gave her private lessons, police said.
The alleged incident happened in early November and Michigan State Police started an investigation into Sanders on Nov. 19, police said.
Sanders was arrested Nov. 23, and granted a $10,000 bond Nov. 24, according to jail records. His passport was seized by Michigan State Police to prevent him from fleeing the country, Jackson County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Kelsey Guernsey said at his Nov. 25 arraignment.
Part of Sanders’ bond requires no contact with the victim and her family. MLive Media Group/Jackson Citizen Patriot does not name victims of sexual abuse.
Sanders coached AAU girls teams for Michigan Premier Basketball in Jackson at the Rando Activity Center, now known as the Michigan Sports Facility of Jackson. He was banned from the facility when police contacted the owners about the allegations, an official at the business said. Sanders also owns Sanders Elite Training, which offers individual and group sessions.
He was most recently an East Jackson High School girls basketball coach. He was suspended from coaching on Nov. 19 when school officials were notified of the state police investigation, and his coaching contract later terminated, Superintendent Steve Doerr said.
Sanders was a standout basketball player from Creston High School in Grand Rapids. He played for Ferris State University from 2010-12, after transferring from Columbus State, a junior college program in Ohio. Sanders also played for the Grand Rapids Drive, an NBA D-League team affiliated with the Detroit Pistons.