Former Pe Ell coach faces charge of third-degree rape of teenage student

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Todd D. Phelps, left, passes defense attorney Bob Schroeter as he leaves the courtroom in Chehalis.

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter


CHEHALIS – A now-former softball coach at Pe Ell High School went before a judge this afternoon to face an additional charge in connection with alleged sexual contacts with a 16-year-old player on the girls’ team.

Todd D. Phelps, 52, of Pe Ell, is charged with third-degree rape now as well as second-degree sexual misconduct with a minor.

The new count followed further investigation of an incident that allegedly occurred in July in which the girl said Phelps asked her to meet him at his brother’s Pe Ell residence to discuss cuts to her legs and asked her to lower her pants, according to charging documents.

Charging documents allege he kissed her, touched her and suggested more, and she said told him, “No, please don’t.” They engaged in sex and she said “she was very scared and just wanted it to be over,” charging documents allege.

Phelps resigned at the end of April after two years as an assistant coach. His resignation was because of a violation of school policy regarding social contact with students, according to the school district superintendent.

He was summoned into Lewis County Superior Court today where Judge Richard Brosey said he could remain free if he signed a $25,000 unsecured appearance bond.

Phelps was scheduled to return to court Dec. 8 to make his plea.

Phelps was arrested last month following the report about two incidents made in September to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

At the time, he was charged only with second-degree sexual misconduct with a minor in connection with an April 2 encounter with the girl. On that day, according to charging documents, he had asked her to stop by his house and asked her to take off her pants so he could see some cuts on her legs.

She told a deputy Phelps began hugging her, pulled her into his lap and kissed her.

She described her relationship to him as that of a student and coach, and as part of a “second family,” charging documents state.

Third-degree rape carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Second-degree sexual misconduct with a minor is a gross misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of 364 days in jail.

If convicted, Phelps would be required to register as a sex offender.

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173 Responses to “Former Pe Ell coach faces charge of third-degree rape of teenage student”

  1. Dunno says:

    Delayed again? Anyone know who we are blaming this time for the delay? Defense or Prosc? What is more time needed for this time?

  2. justiceforall says:

    It is so f’ing annoying when people do not keep their word or control their impulses.

  3. Skook-n-Grace says:

    It’s called paying homage, not insulting, none of you even knew the couple, or the story of his nick name. I remember Pe Ell when it was more than a boarded up shanty town of tweekers.
    A simple question; how is it Use your Brain has been repeatedly making historical references that date from the early to mid 80’s in Pe Ell, but claims no knowledge of the head on fatality from that period that took place in downtown Pe Ell….hmmm. Of course none of you have any idea who it is either, or the back story.Hint: there were no skid marks prior to impact.
    Use your brain closed off her post with a stated almost relief, this thread would soon be forgotten…I’ll bet!
    Can’t imagine who the career criminal she was intimated with, ironic a member of that family drowned given their surname.
    Yeah, Kathy Coopers Facebook looks legit, it’s the only one on the moderators list with out a add friend option.It showed up on my account awhile ago, it was a promo for an on-line casino.
    I deleted it.
    Oh, and Justice for all you are no one to speak regarding grammar or spelling. Not surprised you did not address a single point in my earlier post.
    Why are you people so focused on this none relevant round about anyway? I really am unbiased in this,this stuff means nothing it comes down to the jury, remember the case?
    God, I cannot believe I responded to you people, but it was so obvious.

  4. justiceforall says:

    Bustybabe…. After Unbiased’s post I want to make sure that you knew I was being sarcastic in my critique of you.

    I THINKS YOU’RE POSTS OUR JUST FINE!!!!

  5. unbiased says:

    PS…. Your superior intellect leaves us bewildered…”spam facebook” for a cover? Been on the internet long? And I wonder if your spelling is any better in french than it is in english, or maybe those are just typos I’ve been seeing? Also, there is no rhythm to your rhyme, ya know what I mean? Huh? I dont think your making quite the impression on people that you intended, but hey, go for the gusto.
    Sharyn can verify that I amaze people with what I say at times too! Dont get on the defense now, it takes one to know one, right? But damn, where DID you come from anyhow cause you are definately off the hook!
    Now, have you seen Squirt n Pal around or not?

  6. justiceforall says:

    Ya Kathy…. using profile names of dead people, then insulting the dead people is soooo much classier. Let this be a lesson to you.

    PS it is also not okay to use all caps, type in a sloppy manner, misspell words, omit bombastic words and phrases or fail to use a foreign launguage phrases aimed to try and impress everyone. Bad form all the way around (smilie face).

  7. Skook-n-Grace says:

    My Final Word:

    Thats just sad useing a spam Facebook profile as cover, nice try

  8. justiceforall says:

    How can it be said that he is already being convicted when no one on this site has the ability to convict anyone? These forums are for public opinion and if you don’t like hearing public opinion why don’t you stay off of this site or better yet just read the article and not click the comments button and see what people have to say if you have such a delicate disposition.

    This is an emotional topic that affects all types of people and there are going to be emotions. It is good for victim blamers to hear they are full of shit and it is good for the victims, supporters of victims to know there are like-minded people out there fighting for justice.

    There are many people who witnessed this man’s behavior and in their eyes he is not innocent and they have the right to say so. They may not know if he is guilty of everything he is charged with but they know this is not an innocent man.

    Regardless what we all think individually the trial is moving forward and like it or not everyone will have to live with the outcome. Sometimes the guilty go free and sometimes the innocent are convicted but most of the time our system works perfectly and convictions are justifiably achieved.

  9. Sits in Wonder says:

    In reading back to Feb on this feed… wow… just wow… what a thread… personally I agree alot with “24” shows both sides yet doesnt allow emotion to conflict with opinion or theory.. bottom line is… this is sad…. a girl cried rape.. and the community has already convicted a man based solely on an accusation. I was raised to believe we lived in a Country where you were innocent prior to be proven guilty… instead what I see here is you are guilty and only innocent until proven innocent but yet even then… people will call you guilty… WAKE UP AMERICA !!! objectivity,…..

  10. bustybabe says:

    @ SKOOK N GRACE–FIRST I AM THE ORIGINAL AND ONLY BUSTYBABE,AND DONT POST UNDER DIFFERNT ALIASES,AS THATS NOT ME,I WILL SAY WHAT I HAVE TO SAY AS ME,,AND WITH THAT SAID,MY REAL NAME IS KATHERINE COOPER AND IVE ONLY LIVED IN THIS STATE SINCE 2008,MOVING FROM OKLAHOMA AFTER MEETING MY BF ONLINE IN 2007 ON AN ADULT SITE.IF U STILL DONT BELIEVE ME,ASK SHARON,,WE ARE FRIENDS ON FB,…THANK U FOR UR INTEREST IN ME,,AND U NEED TO TAKE SEROQUIL FOR UR DELUSIONS,,,LOL

  11. use your brain says:

    Hey Busty Babe, since we are one in the same I think we may need to meet, lol. But I understand if you don’t want to reveal yourself. But I have to admit I am so curious now about the grill of the Peterbuilt truck I am thinking that you have to know about the reference since I do not.

    Looks like the trail is moving forward next week and this thread will soon be forgotten.

  12. Skook-n- Grace says:

    I do not suffer ignorance nor hypocrisy,excluding myself of course, which is why I need to give rebuttal to Use Your Brains jeremaid post.Before she next accuses me of being Latoya Jackson, and no I am not Todd Phelps or any of his supporters.First, I know you also post as Busty Babe, further more I know you’re actual real identity, you are simply externalizing your inner struggles, attempting to transfer them onto myself. Neither is it relevant to my reality or this current topic at hand.
    I am grateful to have steered clear of the line many people allowed their nose to follow into that bag of long woes’.You might try Damiana tea as a natural mood elevator, sweetend with honey.
    Whether germane to this case or not, there were some highly inappropriate relationships going on years ago between some much older men and adolescent girls. Why they were not prosecuted, I don’t know, as there were laws on the books.One case that was in the midst of being prosecuted ended up with one of the principals becoming a grill ornament on a Peterbilt truck. I couldn’t stand the person, so I didn’t grieve. You ran in his circle at the time, yes, you were tight with his “wife”.
    Neither yourself or your girlfriends back in the day could hardly be mistaken for shrinking Violets. Good luck.

  13. bustybabe says:

    @Eddies popbottle exchange & tobacco Emporium says—UM ,UR ON THIS SITE WITH UR COMMENTS SO MAKES U HILARIOUS TOO,,AND I HAVE A FEELIN UR PROBS ARE JUST STARTING,,,TOO BAD

  14. Eddies popbottle exchange & tobacco Emporium says:

    You people are hilarious! Wish I could feel you’re rage,but this is too much of a good time.
    Everbodies got their problems, but none of them are mine!!

  15. use your brain says:

    Just like you don’t have to be Einstein to figure out the allusion of the sword of Damocles, you don’t have to be Einstein to figure out Pete’s Bench, Skook n Grace, and Eddies popbottle exchange & Tobacco Emporium is the same person.
    “I” think you have pretty much demonstrated how disgusting you can be just because someone disagreeed with your opinion. You called Skook a portable toilet. In another you make light of the whole situation and insinuated the reason why Phelps was accused/charged was because he is bad in bed. You are just an icky person. Believe me I am not envious of what you call a superior imagination or bi-polar rantings. Anyone can throw a few phrases in a internet translator. What have you been smoking and drinking all day.

  16. Dunno says:

    LOL skook n Grace. Wise elders living on in you “smiley face”

  17. justiceforall says:

    ha ha…. guess use your brain got under your skin alittle and you are the sensitive one aching for a little attention with your fancy French phrases and derogatory remarks about the dead.

    does anyone know the outcome of the hearing today?

  18. Skook-n-Grace says:

    Re: Use your brain

    Oh, combbien merveileux il doit etre de depenser you’ ;
    la vie entiere re dans une ville de ghetto de degringolade
    vers le bas aiment le Pe Ell. J’ai offense votre indivdu sensible. Peut-etre vous devriez obtenir a un verre de lait
    chaud un Pamprin et la caresse sous votre edredon et observent le canal de cachet!

    So it does not suprise me you are unable to grasp the allusion of the sword of Damocles. It also helps explain why you seem to try and turn someones personal observation into a point of debate. I don’t care if you understand my point or not, not suprised how often you use the word “I” in your posts. You are not the story, and neither am “I”.

    A skook is a slang term for a portable toilet by the way.
    I think you’re envious of my superior imagination.
    understand?

  19. justiceforall says:

    Anyone know the the state’s answer to the defense’s motion to dismiss?

  20. Eddies popbottle exchange & Tobacco Emporium says:

    nothing says”bad in bed” quite like getting criminal charges filed on oneself afterward.
    talk about post coitus depression.

  21. use your brain says:

    Both your screen names are creepy… unless you are the same person which puts you in a league all by yourself.

  22. Dunno says:

    Skook and Grace are dead.

  23. Pete's Bench says:

    WARNING!!!
    that weird site with phelps pictures on it contains virus’s…stay away. I don’t know who stuck his pictures on it.

    p.s.

    who died?