Former youth volleyball coach charged with indecent solicitation, grooming
A former youth volleyball coach from McHenry County faces charges alleging he arranged a meeting for a sexual encounter with who he believed was a 14-year-old girl, authorities said Thursday.
Philip S. Bromley, 44, of the 200 block of Creekside Trail in McHenry, was arrested Wednesday when arrived at the meeting place and instead encountered members of the Lake County Sheriff's Office Special Investigations Group.
Bromley is charged with indecent solicitation of a minor, traveling to meet a minor and grooming, all felonies, according to sheriff's police. He appeared in court Thursday and was ordered held in the Lake County jail on $500,000 bail.
Sheriff's police say Bromley had been communicating online for several weeks with an undercover detective posing as a 14-year-old girl. During the conversations, Bromley enticed the "teen" to meet with him for the purpose of a sexual relationship, authorities allege.
Bromley was arrested Wednesday after traveling to a location in Lake County for the meeting, sheriff's police said.
Anyone that may have been victimized by Bromley is encouraged to file a report with their local law enforcement agency, authorities said.
"We continue to stress the importance to parents and guardians - be vigilant and monitor who your children are talking to on social media," Sheriff John D. Idleburg said in an announcement of the arrest. "Predators commonly use these applications to entice children."
Scott Harris, executive director of the Crystal Lake-based Sky High Volleyball, confirmed Thursday that Bromley worked for the organization more than a decade ago, serving as a part-time coach from late November 2008 to June 2013.
"Sky High has not had any contact with Mr. Bromley since his departure and has not been affiliated with our program for a decade," Harris said in a statement released to the media Thursday.
"Sky High has been around since 1989 and has been one of the leaders in the club sports industry for training and performance," the statement adds. "Sky High prides itself on placing many safeguards in our venues to help keeps our players safe at all times."