Former Minor Leaguer Due In Court On Child Sex Charges
FREDERICK, Md. (AP) -- A high school baseball coach from Washington state pleaded guilty Thursday to sexually abusing the 15-year-old son of a family with whom he lived while playing minor league baseball in Maryland in 1998.
Public schools in Vancouver, Washington, initiated proceedings to terminate Eric M. Estes' employment after he entered the plea in Frederick County Circuit Court to one count of child abuse, school system spokeswoman Pat Nuzzo said. Estes had been on paid administrative leave from Skyview High School since he was charged last June.
Estes, 42, a married father of a 7-year-old daughter, remains free on bail pending sentencing May 21. The conviction carries a maximum 15-year prison sentence but prosecutors agreed to recommend he serve three years of supervised probation, register as a sex offender and get any recommended counseling after a psychological evaluation.
Prosecutors dropped charges of third-degree sex offense and attempted second-degree sex offense in return for Estes' guilty plea.
Assistant State's Attorney Lindell Angel called it a fair outcome, given the age of the case and the lack of any other criminal history. She said no other allegations have surfaced in Maryland or the five other states in which the right-handed pitcher worked. His eight-season career in the minors included teams in Alabama, California, New Jersey, New York and Washington state.
Defense attorney James Papirmeister also cited the lack any other charges, investigations or allegations. Estes declined to comment.
Estes first lived with the Frederick family in 1997 while playing for the Frederick Keys under a "host family" arrangement common in the minors. He acknowledged having mutually masturbated with the boy in 1998, when he stayed with the family while playing for the visiting Bowie Baysox. Both teams are Baltimore Orioles affiliates.
The victim first reported the abuse to Frederick police in 2007, but they said they couldn't find enough evidence to support charges. Last May, Vancouver police, acting on new information, interviewed Estes and developed additional evidence, Frederick police said.
The victim, who no longer lives in Maryland, said in an email there should be more oversight of the process that brought numerous ballplayers into his family's home over the years. The Associated Press doesn't name victims of sexual assaults.
"From what I can recall, there was no screening process. We just sent a flyer to spring training about rooms for rent, and the players called us," the victim wrote.
"As an adult, I feel it's very dangerous to bring in anyone to your home who haven't had background checks and to leave them alone with your kids. And that is because of what happened to me," he wrote.
Minor League Baseball spokesman Jeff Lantz said the host family process varies from club to club. He said the tradition builds community support for teams.
"I think a lot of people take pride in having the team in their town," he said.
Lantz, as well as Frederick Keys General Manager Dave Ziedelis and Baltimore Orioles spokeswoman Kristen Hudak, referred questions about screening procedures to Major League Baseball since minor league players are major league employees. Major League Baseball officials didn't immediately respond to questions posed by the AP.
(Copyright 2015 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
