Missouri Sports Team Sexual Abuse Lawyer        

Participating in sports can come with many benefits, especially when athletes join teams at a young age. Sports can teach teamwork, resilience and self-discipline. Unfortunately, players in Missouri may also be subjected to traumatizing crimes, including sexual assault and abuse, in sports.

At DRZ Law, we stand up for survivors of sports team sexual abuse. Our attorneys can explore your legal right to file a lawsuit against a coach, league, school, community organization or another party for the egregious crime of sports team sexual abuse. Request a free consultation today.

Why Choose Us?

• We are passionate about holding sexual abusers and the institutions that protect them accountable. We will work tirelessly to obtain the best possible results for your case.
• Our lawyers will be there for you every step of the way, making sure your questions are heard and answered. We can keep your identity anonymous, if desired.
• We have over 20 years of experience representing sexual abuse survivors and their loved ones, including the parents of children who have been sexually abused in youth sports.

What Is Sexual Abuse?

Missouri’s definition of sexual abuse is subjecting another person to sexual contact when the victim is “incapacitated, incapable of consent, lacks the capacity of consent or by the use of forcible compulsion” (Revised Statutes of Missouri Section 566.100). Lacking the capacity of consent means being unable to legally give consent. This applies to minors in Missouri, or persons under the age of 18.

The crime of first-degree sexual abuse is a class C felony, enhanced to a class B felony if the victim is less than 14 years of age or it is an aggravated sexual offense. Second-degree sexual abuse (RSMo 566.101) is to subject someone to sexual contact without that person’s consent. This crime is a class A misdemeanor, enhanced to a class E felony if it is an aggravated sexual offense. These are serious crimes that can lead to time in jail or prison for the offender.

What Does Sports Team Sexual Abuse Look Like?

Sports team sexual abuse refers to any unwanted or nonconsensual sexual contact with a victim on a sports team or part of a sports organization. It can involve the touching of a victim’s private parts, groping or kissing, oral copulation, sodomy, rape or attempted rape, and statutory rape. This crime can affect both youth and adult players. Sexual abuse may be between a player and a coach, two players, a sports doctor and an athlete, a volunteer and a player, and others involved in a sport.

Coach-player sexual abuse is a common crime, as a coach can take advantage of his or her position of trust and authority over a player to sexually abuse the victim, especially if the player is an unsuspecting child. The coach may force a player to participate in sexual activity to stay on the team or go to the next level in his or her career, for example. Coaches also often have unsupervised access to children and team members during practices and games or competitions, including overnight stays and away games.

Sports team sexual abuse may also be perpetrated by a fellow player. A case of sports team sexual hazing, for example, may involve the sexual abuse of a new player by other teammates as part of an initiation ritual. Older players may also groom, molest and sexually assault younger players. Another possibility is a sports doctor or physical therapist sexually abusing a patient athlete. Physicians can commit sexual assault and abuse crimes under the guise of ordinary medical care.

Seeking Justice for Sports Team Sexual Abuse in Missouri

If you or your child is a victim of sports team sexual abuse in Missouri, help is available. With assistance from the attorneys at DRZ Law, you can demand justice and seek maximum financial compensation from an abuser as well as the larger entity in charge of the sport, such as a school or national organization. We will guide you through the legal process from start to finish, advocating for your rights every step of the way.

We care about our clients. We will believe you. Contact us today at (913) 400-2033 to schedule a free and entirely confidential case evaluation with an experienced sexual abuse attorney.