Former Peoria High School basketball coach on trial for suspected sex crimes against girls

A former Peoria High School teacher and coach was on trial this week in facing charges related to sexual encounters with two underage teens.

Closing arguments were delivered at the Old Courthouse on Tuesday in Maricopa County Superior Court and jury deliberations were scheduled for Wednesday morning in the trial against William Roberts III, 46. The former basketball coach was charged with six counts of sexual conduct with a minor.

Roberts' employment at the school preceded that of another basketball coach accused of sexual misconduct. Widely known by Phoenix Suns fans as the orange body-painted Mr. ORNG, Patrick Battillo, 37, was arrested on suspicion of multiple felony charges, including luring a minor for sexual exploitation and child sex trafficking.

Roberts accused of ongoing sexual relationships with 2 underage teens

Peoria Police Department arrest records stated Roberts is suspected of having sexual encounters with a 16-year-old girl on multiple occasions between March 2011 and March 2012. On one occasion, Roberts and the underage girl had a sexual encounter before attending practice, police said in arrest records.

Records said the investigator discovered there was a second girl Roberts is suspected of having a sexual relationship with: a 17-year-old girl.

Multiple people told investigators they suspected there were inappropriate relationships between Roberts and the two underage teens, records said.

Roberts pleaded not guilty during court hearings in July and August of 2022, according to court records.

Peoria Unified School District confirmed that "Will Roberts" held various classified and certified positions since 2006. He has been a substitute teacher, instructional assistant, coach and teacher.

Buckeye teacher indicted on charges of sexual misconduct with underaged student

Upon his hiring, Roberts underwent a background check, the school district’s statement said.

Roberts was placed on leave in December 2019 for an internal investigation when "we were informed that he was being investigated by Peoria police." He resigned in May 2020 "for personal reasons," the statement said.

A September 2017 profile of Roberts at Peoria High by NBC’s Phoenix affiliate, KPNX 12News, quoted then-Principal Paul Bowers saying the coach was "amazing."

In the TV interview, Roberts was effusive about his position in close proximity to children.

"If a student is able to allow a piece of your life to get them to thrust forward ... and go off and become successful from it, and find themselves, find their way and their confidence, be motivated by somebody as flawed as I am, it’s addicting," he said.

According to a July 2011 profile on Roberts in the Glendale Star, the former coach is from Philadelphia and had started a basketball team at Peoria High for at-risk students in grades 7-9. Students played under a contract they signed agreeing to refrain from drugs, alcohol or sex "or anything that would disrespect the team," according to the piece.

Mr. ORNG: Coach that later replaced Roberts' position also facing sex crime charges

The trial against Roberts came weeks after a Peoria High boys basketball coach was arrested on suspicion of offering underage students money in exchange for images and videos of them performing sex acts.

Battillo, also known as Mr. ORNG, was arrested on suspicion of multiple felony charges, including luring a minor for sexual exploitation and child sex trafficking.

According to information from the school district, Battillo began coaching basketball at Peoria High in 2019 — the same year Roberts was put on leave.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Former Peoria coach on trial for suspected sex crimes against 2 girls