Affidavit Details Case against Former Brook Hill Coach

BULLARD — An arrest warrant has revealed more details in the arrest of a former Brook Hill School coach. KETK reports Bullard police officers arrested Ricky Clements, aka “Papa Ricky,” 61, of Flint, and charged him with enticing a child. Clements served as the head volleyball coach at Brook Hill. In the arrest warrant affidavit, it is revealed Clements had allegedly been sending inappropriate text messages with a 16-year-old boarding school student. Police were first notified by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. When authorities spoke with the the child’s mother, they reportedly learned she was aware of the situation.

On August 21, the student texted Clements about community service as follows: “Hey coach Ricky I would really like to do some service work every Sunday or something do you know any homeless shelters around here or something with kids I can do.” He reportedly responded “I have a spare bed that is homeless.” The affidavit says on September 18, Clements sent a text referencing a date the following night. On October 1, two pictures were sent from a volleyball trip.

Two days later, Clements asked the student if she was at the boarding house. She replied no and the coach reportedly responded with frowning faces. Clements told her he wanted to talk about “Life, death, happiness, sadness, education, uneducation, McCary or me, dresses, etc I kinda miss you,” according to the affidavit. On the same date later that night, officials say Clements texted to the student, “I hope you were asleep and this wakes you up. I hope you can’t go back to sleep. I hope your bed is not comfortable and you can’t sleep. I hope it is so quiet that you can’t sleep — other than that — “heart” nite!”

The affidavit says on October 7, Clements contacted the victim’s mother to say he wanted her to bring the victim to him so they could talk. The coach also said he had been ordered by the school’s administration to not initiate contact with the student. Clements also allegedly threatened the mother, reportedly saying, “it would be a shame for everyone to find out about her past secrets,” referencing the student.

The mother then traveled to the school and reviewed her daughter’s cellphone. During the check, the mother said she saw text messages between the coach and the victim, as well as two videos. The videos reportedly involved the two listening to a song entitled “Pants on the Ground” and another of them meaning to take a picture. One of the videos appears to be in front of The Brook Hill School dorm. Police said the message were personal in nature and not professional.

On October 20, the student was brought to The Children’s Advocacy Center in Tyler for an interview. The girl said the two left her dorm room to eat and drive around at 10 a.m. on a prior Sunday. They returned around 3 p.m. He allegedly did so without parental consent. The student also said Clements asked her to spend the night at his house and claimed he wanted to be a father figure to her.

According to the affidavit, the director of the Brook Hill boarding house said it was not unusual for coaches and staff to pick up students for school-related events. However, it is discouraged and unacceptable to be alone with a student for a length of time and/or a student of the opposite sex. Students are also required to sign out when they leave. He additionally told authorities it is possible for the rules and guidelines to be broken without board staff’s knowledge. After speaking with the school administration, Clements resigned from his position. Clements has been released on $4,000 bond.