PHOENIX — A local volleyball coach was arrested after he was accused of inappropriately touching minors at a Phoenix school, authorities said.
Glendon Gray Templeton, 62, was arrested on Friday on two counts of aggravated assault on a minor, officials from the Phoenix Police Department said.
A Deer Valley Unified School District spokesperson said Templeton worked at Canyon Springs STEM Academy for a little more than a year, and as the volleyball coach for less than a month. The spokesperson added in a statement to 12 News that Templeton had passed all required background checks to gain employment.
The spokesperson for the school district said a parent originally came forward to school administrators with concerns, which led the school and police to investigate Templeton.
Police said two 13-year-old students, who were also volleyball players, accused Templeton of routinely grabbing their butts while instructing them on posture during volleyball drills. Templeton allegedly also grabbed one of the students by her neck, pushing her down to fix her posture, authorities said.
The girls also told officials that Templeton would make inappropriate comments about them dating boys.
Police said Templeton has a history of inappropriately touching women he's been responsible for or worked around.
Between 2020 and 2021, police said multiple teachers alleged Templeton grabbed them by their waist and arms without their permission, police said.
The district said those allegations came to light through the investigation related to Templeton and the volleyball team, and no complaints of unwanted touching had previously been filed.
In 2019 as a bishop in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Templeton was also accused of forcing at least five women in his congregation to engage in some type of sexual activity, authorities said.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints said they could not provide 12 News with any further details on those allegations.
A spokesperson for Phoenix Police told 12 News, however, that case was closed because no victims were willing to participate in the investigation.
Police said Templeton was accused of molestation by his 10-year-old niece in 1989. Police said that case was also closed after all leads were exhausted.
Police said Templeton denied physically touching any of the students on the butt and said he did not intend to make any inappropriate comments.
12 News contacted Templeton Tuesday, but he did not respond to our request for comment.
"DVUSD and our schools take reports like this seriously as student safety is our highest priority," The school district spokesperson said in a statement to 12 News.
Templeton is currently on administrative leave from the school, according to the district.
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