Willie Alexander Jr., 50, a former assistant basketball coach at Clinton Christian Academy, has pleaded guilty to charges of sexual battery and exploitation involving a 14-year-old student-athlete, Hinds County District Attorney Jody E. Owens, II, announced on September 30.
The investigation, according to WLBT, began on June 14, 2022, when the victim’s mother reported to Clinton Police that her son had disclosed ongoing sexual abuse by Alexander. The student-athlete stated that the abuse had been occurring for several months at Alexander’s home in Clinton.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, Alexander engaged in sexual acts with the victim, forced him to participate, and attempted to normalize the behavior through grooming with gifts and promises.
RELATED STORIES
The student shared that he’d gone with Alexander to Dallas, Texas, and New Orleans, Louisiana, and they were even planning a trip to Disney World. After the student mentioned this, his mother reported that Alexander showed up at her house without telling anyone.
When she confronted him, Alexander admitted he’d taught the minor about condom use. The next day, Alexander left a basketball game he was coaching, and then the police searched his house with a warrant.
During a search of the residence, investigators found a variety of items, including sex toys, multiple recording devices, cellphones, media storage devices, laptops, tablets, and lubricants. A particularly notable find was a hidden recording device concealed in a Glade battery-operated air freshener, located in a shared bathroom.
Additionally, a van found at the residence contained further sex paraphernalia, such as silicone devices and bottles of personal lubricant. Alexander was later transported to the Clinton Police Department by detectives.
READ ALSO: Convicted NYC rapist released only 2 months ago reportedly charged with new sex crimes
According to an earlier report by WLBT, he had an initial appearance in Clinton Municipal Court in June and was given a $250,000 bond on a sexual battery charge. He was given a bond of $150,000 for gratification of lust charge.
“It is an ongoing investigation that we are taking very seriously and making sure we’re very thorough with it so that all juveniles and everyone is protected,” Amanda Jones, a spokesperson for the City of Clinton, said at the time.
Alexander recently pleaded guilty to sexual battery and two counts of exploitation of a minor. He is scheduled for sentencing on October 15, 2025, and faces up to 110 years in the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
District Attorney Owens praised the child who spoke up, stating, “A coach should be a role model, not a predator. By speaking up, this child is a hero who helped bring an abuser to justice. We will protect our children. We will protect our community, and we will hold abusers accountable.”
The District Attorney’s Office also extended special thanks to Detective Amanda Johansson of the Clinton Police Department for her investigative work.
READ ALSO: Nurse accused of sexually assaulting a 73-year-old grandmother in her final weeks
