Michigan parents question how registered sex offender worked with children at fitness center for 2 decades
Forum Fitness Center fired the contractor after parents raised concerns on social media
WESTLAND, Mich. – A Westland fitness center is facing serious questions from parents after they learned that a contractor who worked with children for nearly two decades is a registered sex offender with convictions from the 1990s.
Parents blindsided by contractor’s criminal history
The contractor — whom Local 4 is not naming because he is not currently under investigation — has a 1990 conviction in Kansas for child pornography and a 1991 conviction in Missouri for child abuse, according to online records.
One parent, speaking anonymously, said his children attended the center for at least eight years.
“The court case was the third or fourth result when you simply Google his name, so clearly no background check was performed,” the parent said.
He said he had not witnessed any misconduct firsthand but was disturbed after searching the contractor’s name online.
“When I started googling things on my own and saw the court case out of Missouri, I was very disgusted by that,” the parent said. “How is an individual convicted of these heinous actions against children allowed to work with children?”
Fitness center knew of history
Forum Fitness Center owner Jeff Sullivan confirmed to Local 4 that the facility learned of the contractor’s criminal history several years ago but was not concerned at the time, citing no reported incidents.
“I want to say there have never been any instances where we’re accusing [the contractor] of being inappropriate when teaching swim lessons,” Sullivan said.
When asked whether a background check had ever been conducted, Sullivan acknowledged none was done by the facility itself.
“Not by us, but I do know that he was certified with American Red Cross,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan said Westland police were also aware the contractor worked at the center.
“He has taught thousands of children how to swim, and there’s never been an instance where there’s been a problem,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan confirmed the contractor was ultimately let go because of parent backlash.
The gym posted a statement on Facebook reading in part, “We are taking this matter extremely seriously.
Upon learning of this information, [the contractor] was relieved of his duties and is no longer affiliated with Forum Fitness Center.”
Contractor says he never intended to work directly with kids
The contractor told Local 4 by phone that his original role was to design and organize the swim program — not teach children directly.
“My role was to run and design and organize a program there. I didn’t want to have any direct contact,” he said.
He said the program grew faster than expected, forcing him into a more hands-on teaching role.
“The program just took off so quickly and got so large that we couldn’t keep up with finding instructors to cover everything. That’s how I had to start getting involved in teaching to keep the program going,” he said.
The contractor acknowledged he did not disclose his status as a registered sex offender before being hired and didn’t know if there was a background check.
“It wasn’t discussed, and I didn’t bring it up,” he said. “I doubt they did one when we started the program. I didn’t share that with them. I doubt they would’ve let me start the program if they knew.”
He said he was not aware of any allegations brought against him while working at the facility and offered an apology to those affected.
“My apologies for all the hardship and worry that it caused anybody. This was not my intention,” he said.
Michigan Law for Sex Offenders
Under Michigan law, registered sex offenders are prohibited from working or volunteering at K-12 schools.
However, private businesses — even those that primarily serve children — are not subject to the same restrictions.
Recent legislation passed by the Michigan House of Representatives seeks to expand those bans to other child-focused settings, though no such law is currently in effect.
Parents say the gap in the law is concerning.
“Clearly, they need to vet their employees more. I don’t think we’ll be going back,” a parent said.
There is no current investigation into any wrongdoing by the contractor at Forum Fitness Center.
Police: Manassas fugitive arrested on child rape charges after years on the run
U.S. Marshals and Manassas City police have arrested a 53-year-old fugitive wanted for years on multiple child rape charges.
Federal agents arrested Donaldo Antonio Buezo Hernandez on Thursday in Swannanoa, North Carolina after Manassas detectives developed new leads on his whereabouts, city police said in a news release.
The investigation began April 14, 2023, when a now-adult victim reported years of sexual abuse as a juvenile, the release said.
Investigators later identified a second juvenile victim who reported serial assaults by the same offender, a family member known to both victims, the release said.
After learning of the pending charges, Buezo Hernandez fled Virginia, according to police. Detectives tracked him to Pennsylvania, where local and federal agencies tried unsuccessfully to locate and arrest him. Last month, investigators learned he was in North Carolina, the release said.
Buezo Hernandez faces four counts of rape of a victim under 13, the release said. He is currently held pending extradition to Virginia.
Pa. man who was free on unsecured bail, now jailed on new child sex abuse charges
MILL HALL — A man released on unsecured bail in a Lycoming County child sexual abuse case is jailed in neighboring Clinton County on new, more serious charges for crimes police say occurred while he was out on bail.
John Mitchell Poorman Jr., 41, of Williamsport, was denied bail Wednesday when he was arraigned on Mill Hall police multiple charges including of attempted rape, aggravated indecent assault, and assaulting a child, among others.
He had been released May 21 on $50,000 unsecured bail when he was arraigned in Williamsport by District Judge Christian D. Frey.
The Williamsport police charges against Poorman, which have been held for court include endangering the welfare of children, corruption of minors, indecent assault and indecent contact with a minor.
The new charges in Clinton County accuse him of having inappropriate contact with a female under the age of 14 on June 17 and 18 in a house in Mill Hall.
The child told borough police Poorman stopped assaulting her when the telephone rang but she stood in fear, not knowing what to do. He sat on a living room couch and masturbated, she alleged.
The Williamsport charges stem from 2024 incidents with a girl then 11 or 12 in which Poorman is accused of pulling her onto his lap and inappropriately touching and hugging her against her wishes. Several times he came into her bedroom and got in bed with her, she alleged.
When interviewed, Poorman admitted carrying the girl upstairs several times but described it to police as a game they played. He denied placing the girl in his bed, entering her bedroom or becoming sexually aroused, police said.
Pa. man gets de facto life sentence for lengthy sexual abuse of young boys and girls
WILLIAMSPORT — A Lycoming County man found guilty of sexually abusing five young boys and girls over a more than 20-year period has received a de facto life prison sentence.
County Judge Eric R. Linhardt on Friday found Timothy Darren Stroud Sr., 58, was a sexually violent predator and then sentenced him to state prison for 120 years, 9 months to 241 years and 6 months.
The sentence reflected the wishes of victims who either spoke or had statements read for them.
All had testified at Stroud’s trial last spring when he was found guilty of 39 counts.
They included rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, corruption of minors, endangering the welfare of children, unlawful contact with children, aggravated indecent assault and indecent exposure.
The Muncy man had been charged with more than 1,000 counts but they were consolidated prior to trial.
“He destroyed my entire childhood” by doing “inexcusable things to me,” one of the victims told the judge. She called Stroud a “disgusting individual.”
Another victim accused him of taking advantage of children and being liar his entire life.
A third victim in a statement that was read said Stroud made her scared of everyone and she continues to have nightmares. The “pedophile” should be in jail the rest of his life, she said.
Another through a statement said she has been battling demons for 15 years and at times thought about ending her life. She called him a “monster” and she would not want anyone else to go through what she did.
Stroud, who chose not to participate in the process to determine if he was sexually violent predator, said nothing before being sentenced.
The Navy veteran who was employed when he was arrested in 2023 maintains his innocence, his attorney Tyler Calkins said.
Assistant District Attorney Phoebe L. Yates argued for a consecutive sentence on each count in the aggravated range citing the deep damage he caused to his victims.
Testimony at previous court proceedings were the sex acts began in 1992 when the victims were between the ages of 4 and 17.
In explaining his sentence, Linhardt cited the permanent and lifelong harm to victims, Stroud’s lack of remorse and concern for others, the likelihood of re-offending and perjured trial testimony.
Defendants have the right to testify but his claims of innocence at trial were “absolutely absurd,” the judge said.
Any lesser sentence would depreciate the gravity of the charges, the impact on the victims and the need to protect the public, he said.
Other provisions of Stroud’s sentence were that he have no contact with the victims or their families, he register as a sex offender and pay restitution of $560. He will be on probation for three years should he ever get out of prison.
Based on his assessment, psychologist C. Townsend Velkoff recommended Stroud be designated a sexually violent predator saying he had exploited children of both genders for decades.
He testified Stroud had engaged in sex when he was 8 or 9, watched pornography with victims, used marijuana and provided it to at least one victim.
The psychologist found no evidence of mental illness and opined there was a risk of re-offending if released.
Stroud is awaiting trial on similar charges in another case and child pornography counts in a second. It is too early to say if prosecution will proceed given the sentence he received, Yates said.
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