A former Palo Verde High School coach, Michael “Luke” Atwell, who was accused of sexually assaulting a child, pleaded not guilty to the charges on Monday. Atwell, 72, was arrested on Nov. 19 at the school and faces six counts of sexual assault against a child under 14 and two counts of lewdness with a child under 14.
Even though Atwell posted $50,000 bail, he appeared in court in jail custody due to high-level electronic monitoring conditions and no contact with minors. Justice of the Peace Diana Sullivan mentioned that Atwell couldn’t be placed on monitoring at his home because of his proximity to the alleged victim, who happened to be a neighbor. However, the victim has since moved according to Chief Deputy District Attorney Peter Thunell.
Defense attorney Jess Marchese highlighted that Atwell had no previous criminal record and no issues during his volunteer work at church and school. Principal Lisa Schumacher sent a message to Palo Verde families stating that a volunteer coach had been arrested on unrelated charges and had been terminated from the school.
The allegations against Atwell involve a boy who was a student at Palo Verde. The victim, who was between 11 and 14-years-old at the time, disclosed to the police that Atwell sexually abused him. Atwell had developed a close relationship with the victim and began the abuse at his house.
The victim was hesitant to speak up as he feared no one would believe him or think he was gay. Atwell denied the allegations and refused to take a lie detector test without his lawyer present. Police found a sex toy at his residence during a search, contradicting his denial.
Further investigations revealed that Atwell had been accused of sexual misconduct by others in the past. He was accused of making inappropriate comments and gestures towards different individuals, including a minor girl. Atwell’s behavior led to him resigning from a coaching position at the church and being barred from the premises.
Atwell had a decorated military career, serving in the Marine Corps and the Air Force until his retirement as a lieutenant colonel in 1997. He received a Bronze Star for his actions during Desert Storm. Despite his military background, Atwell’s alleged actions have tarnished his reputation and raised serious concerns about his conduct.
The case against Atwell continues to unfold as more details emerge regarding his interactions with students and community members. The impact of these allegations on the victims and their families is significant, highlighting the importance of safeguarding against such abuses in educational and community settings.