News Summary
Sharmon Eubanks, a former volunteer basketball coach, has been sentenced to prison for sexually abusing an underage player. The 22-year-old pled guilty to serious charges, including accosting children for immoral purposes. The case, reported by the victim’s mother following an anonymous tip, has raised significant concerns about the safety of minors in educational settings. Eubanks is required to register as a sex offender, highlighting the importance of safeguarding measures in schools.
Grand Rapids – Sharmon Eubanks, a former volunteer basketball coach at Ottawa Hills High School, has been sentenced to a prison term ranging from 60 months to 15 years after pleading guilty to charges of sexual abuse involving an underage player. The sentence, which includes credit for 74 days already served, marks a significant legal outcome related to a case that began with alarming allegations of exploitation of a minor.
Eubanks, 22, faced serious charges, ultimately pleading guilty to one count of accosting children for immoral purposes and an amended count of criminal sexual conduct in the third degree. Other charges, including three counts of criminal sexual conduct in the first degree and one count of criminal sexual conduct in the second degree, were dismissed as part of the agreement.
Under the terms of his sentencing, Eubanks is mandated to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA), a measure designed to keep track of individuals convicted of sexual offenses to protect the community.
Details of the case revealed that Eubanks’ inappropriate relationship with the victim, a student who was under the age of 16 at the time, commenced in September 2024, coinciding with the basketball season. His role as a volunteer coach lasted until October 2024; however, the abusive conduct reportedly continued for several weeks thereafter, concluding at the end of November 2024.
The investigation into Eubanks’ actions was launched after the victim’s mother reported the allegations to law enforcement on December 10, 2024. This report was catalyzed by an anonymous tip received via Facebook, prompting further police engagement. Initially, Eubanks denied any knowledge of the student during police questioning. Nevertheless, he failed a lie detector test administered by the Michigan State Police, leading to further scrutiny of his statements.
According to the victim’s account, the abuse occurred during car rides to and from school, with multiple incidents of coercive sexual contact described in detail. After continued questioning, Eubanks eventually admitted to the existence of the relationship, albeit reluctantly.
In light of these allegations, Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) confirmed that Eubanks was never formally employed or sanctioned as an official coach at their institution. In a statement, the district affirmed that he had passed a background check prior to his involvement as a volunteer.
This case has raised concerns regarding the safeguarding of minors in educational and extracurricular environments. Efforts are being made to review the current policies regarding volunteer coaches and staff to ensure robust protection for students moving forward.
In summary, Eubanks has begun serving his sentence following a guilty plea involving serious charges of sexual misconduct against an underage student. The circumstances surrounding the case have emphasized the critical need for vigilance in safeguarding children within school districts and community programs.
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Volunteer Basketball Coach Charged with Sexual Conduct
Additional Resources
- WZZM13: Former GRPS volunteer sentenced for sexually abusing player
- Fox17: Ex-volunteer basketball coach sentenced for sexually abusing underage student
- MLive: 23 Grand Rapids area boys earn 2025 basketball coaches all-state honors
- Denver Post: Ryan Bowen named Grand Rapids Gold Nuggets coach in G League
- WZZM13: Sharmon Eubanks guilty plea
- Wikipedia: Sexual abuse
- Google Search: sexual abuse prevention
- Google Scholar: protecting children in schools
- Encyclopedia Britannica: child safeguarding
- Google News: educational safeguarding measures
Author: STAFF HERE GRANDRAPIDS WRITER
GRAND RAPIDS STAFF WRITER The GRAND RAPIDS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREGrandRapids.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Grand Rapids, Kent County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as ArtPrize, Festival of the Arts, and World of Winter. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce and Grand Rapids Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in furniture, healthcare, and technology that power the local economy such as Steelcase, Spectrum Health, and Meijer. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREDetroitMI.com, HERENorthville.com, HERENovi.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.
