Coach accused of sexual misconduct with minor
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More information has come to light concerning the firing of Eastern Arizona College men’s basketball coach Tim Parmeter.
A report from EAC Chief of Police Mike McEuen includes numerous references to alleged sexual encounters with a minor between October 2005 and December 2006.
The alleged victim first met Parmeter at the EAC gym and was invited to Parmeter’s office along with a friend. Parmeter said he was going to give them a T-shirt, according to police reports.
The friend eventually headed back to the gym, leaving Parmeter and the victim alone in his office.
He kissed the girl on the mouth before she left the office, and that incident quickly escalated into a sexual relationship which was frequent in nature.
The girl, now 18 years old and a full-time student at EAC, was 16 years old when the sexual relationship began.
Parmeter and the girl started meeting several times a week and had sexual intercourse at his house and in his office.
The victim was first interviewed by McEuen on Jan. 9. On Jan. 10, she was interviewed by McEuen and Detective Kendall Curtis of the Thatcher Police.
The interview was recorded, and the girl gave graphic and specific details about her numerous sexual encounters with Parmeter.
McEuen and Curtis drove to the EAC campus to approach Parmeter on Jan. 17 and asked to speak with him.
Parmeter was asked if there was any truth to rumors of him being involved in a sexual relationship with a minor. He denied the rumors and also told EAC athletic director Jim Bagnall that the rumors were not true.
The police, however, did not believe Parmeter, according to the report. McEuen told Parmeter he thought Parmeter did have sex with the girl because he had seen several e-mails of explicit nature that were sent by Parmeter to the victim.
Parmeter claimed that the girl was stalking him and that she had a password to his computer. He claimed she was responsible for the e-mails.
McEuen’s report said on Jan. 17 Parmeter was confronted and asked specifically about a particular sexual encounter with the victim at his home on the first night of the Graham County Fair in 2005.
“At this point, Parmeter’s face turned red,” McEuen wrote. “He did not admit that he had sex with (the victim).”
At 3:40 p.m. on Jan. 17, Parmeter was fired by EAC Executive Vice President Brent McEuen.
“I was asked to escort Tim Parmeter from the campus,” Mike McEuen said. “He was advised that if he returns to campus, he will be arrested for trespass.”
Thatcher Police Chief Mark Stevens filled in for McEuen and escorted Parmeter from campus. Parmeter was not arrested.
The Graham County Attorney’s Office is reviewing the police reports, and charges against Parmeter will be considered when the review is complete.
