WARREN, Mich. (WXYZ) — The girls varsity basketball coach for New Haven High School was in court Monday for a video arraignment.
Latwan Turner, 43, faces four counts of criminal sexual conduct in the third degree. Each count carries up to 15 years in prison. He is also charged with gross indecency.
One Saturday, around 4 p.m., two police officers from the Warren Police Department were patrolling the parking lot of the Red Roof Inn on Dequindre and 11 Mile Road when they came across Turner and the victim. A detective told the judge that they had just got done having sex.
The judge was also told that when Turner and the victim were caught, he told police she was his girlfriend. After the arrest, detectives say the victim told them she has had sex with Turner at least three times in January, all in his car.
“I missed all the signs, all the signs were there,” said the victim’s older brother who did not want to be identified.
He says he is a police officer, and says in hindsight he saw the signs including inappropriate touching on the shoulder and back, offering rides home to girls and flirting.
“We were lied to, we trusted him with the safety of our sister," the victim's brother said. "He was her coach. We trusted him for many years."
The brother says his sister used to have sleepovers with Turner's children, and says the former basketball coach is lucky that he is behind bars.
“Honestly, I wish I was in the cage with him (be)cause then I wouldn't be leaving," he said. "I’m just being honest."
Investigators believe the inappropriate sexual relationship has been going on for at least two years. Prosecutors says turner could face more charges.
“If it lends itself to higher charges, then of course we will cage him with a higher charge that means criminal sexual conduct one, which is a life felony,” said Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith.
Warren Police Commissioner Bill Dwyer says the Red Roof Inn is on the police department's radar, and that it’s known for having drug activity and prostitution.
