GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Rockford rowing coach accused of filming young female students while they changed clothes in a locker room is now charged with several felonies that, if convicted, could put him behind bars for decades.
Timothy Vallier, 30, was arraigned Monday inside 63rd District Court in Kent County on four felony charges related to the allegations that landed him jail over the weekend.
Vallier is charged with one count of child sexually abusive activity, two counts of using a computer to commit a crime—both 20 year felonies—and one count of possessing child sexually abusive material.
In court Monday, Vallier only spoke when asked by the judge about the ages of kids he worked with and whether he held any other jobs. Vallier told the judge he also worked part time as a janitor while coaching part time for Rockford Public Schools.
The head rowing coach was arrested late Friday after a student discovered a camera that had recorded video inside a changing room in the Rockford Crew House, located at 5501 Jupiter Ave. in Plainfield Township.
Rockford Superintendent Michael Shibler said a female student discovered the camera in an SUV used by the crew team Friday. The student took to the camera to her mother who immediately notified police and the school district, Shibler told FOX 17.
“Stupid, absolutely stupid," Shibler told FOX 17 on Sunday. “I guarantee you if the facts are as just stated, he’s done he is fired. He is over with, his employment is terminated.”
Vallier, who'd been coaching with the district since 2009, is currently on unpaid administrative leave from the district and is not allowed back onto school property.
Just last December, Vallier interviewed with FOX 17 about the unseasonably warm weather allowing the men's rowing team to practice outside. Several pictures of Vallier still remain visible on the Rockford Crew Facebook page, but his bio on the district's rowing page website has since been removed.
FOX 17 reached out to several parents of students on the rowing team, including the mother of the student who found the camera, but all declined to comment. One Rockford parent wrote on Facebook, "I'm absolutely heartbroken, words cannot express how upset I am that I had to speak to my daughter about this."
Despite attempts by his attorney to have it lowered, the judge kept Vallier’s bond at $100,000. If he is able to post bond, Vallier cannot have contact with any children or anyone associated with the school district, the judge said.
Vallier's parents, who were seated in the courtroom, quickly exited and declined to comment about the allegations against their son.
Vallier is due back in court July 22.
