the 07/22/2008

Perth cycling coach wore condom for rape: police

 

 Leading WA cycling coach Rick Lee wore a condom while raping a15-year-old girl in the US yesterday (Perth time), the girl hasalleged.

An affidavit, signed by investigation leader Detective RobertHawke, says the girl told Pennsylvania police Lee confronted her inher family house at Lehigh Township, Pennsylvania after shecollected a newspaper from the front yard.

The girl claimed Lee forced her upstairs, ripped her clothes off,pinned her down and raped her.

She told police that Lee used a condom, and left it on a coffeetable in the house.

The girl was at home alone at the time of the alleged attack.

Her mother returned home some time afterwards and made a 911ambulance call.

Police arrested Lee, 51, after he turned himself in at 2pmWednesday local time (2am yesterday Perth time).

He was charged with rape, statutory rape, burglary, trespass,involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, aggravatedindecent assault, indecent assault and indecent exposure.

The charges carry penalties of up to 20 years jail.

He has yet to engage a lawyer, court officials said and a tentativecourt date of July 23 has been set for a preliminary hearing.

Court officials said this would likely be postponed for two tothree weeks, so that a defence attorney could interview witnessesand prepare for the case.

Detective Hawke's affidavit alleges a photograph of Lee was emailedto the girl from his email address. The photograph was latercirculated to local media to assist with Lee's arrest.

The girl said she did not know Lee, and had never had any contactwith him.

Neighbours allege seeing him park his car outside a trailer parkdown the road, walk up the street, and later walk back to the carat a fast pace.

The affidavit said the used condom was bagged as evidence to see ifpolice could obtain a fingerprint off it.

The alleged victim was taken to a nearby hospital for examinationand forensic evidence gathering.

Detective Hawke's affidavit said the girl was "injured as a resultof the defendant's actions".

The girl alleged Lee asked her several times to remove her clothes,but that she said no each time.

She also said she asked Lee to leave the house several times, butthat he removed an already-unwrapped condom from a box.

She alleged he kissed and touched her breasts, had oral sex andintercourse with her, without her consent.

Lee was due to return to Australia on July 21, the affidavit said.

He remains in Northampton County Prison, Pennsylvania, after bailof $US125,000 ($128,000) was set by District Judge William Zaun.

"Totally out of character"

Lee's wife, Debbie, yesterday said he had "never done anythingwrong".

Mrs Lee said from her Perth home that she had been told her husbandhad been "tricked" by a girl who claimed she was 19 into going toher home.

"He's not the kind of guy who would do anything against anyone'swishes," Mrs Lee said.

Both she and her daughter were "quite upset" to hear of Lee'sarrest.

"He's been with kids all his life working and never done anythingwrong. It's out of character, totally," Mrs Lee said.

Lee was in the US coaching a visiting 10-strong Australian juniorcycling team, including two members from Western Australia.

Lee coached the Australian Youth Olympic team in 2005 and wasassistant manager of the Australian Youth Olympic team in 2003.

He has also coached 16 WA cycling teams.

He runs a company called Cycling West which trains elite juniorcyclists before they gain entry to the WA Institute of Sport.

Lee formerly coached ace Helena Valley cyclist Cameron Meyer, whowill compete on the track in next month's Beijing Olympics.

Lee had been staying with the cycling team in Kutztown, in BerksCounty, Pennsylvania.

The Australian cyclists were practicing at the Valley PreferredCycling Centre in Trexlertown, Pennsylvania.

Cycling Australia says team members "fine"

A Cycling Australia spokeswoman said that following the arrest, theorganisation had checked with a parent travelling with the teamabout the welfare of the 10 young cyclists.

Apart from the two WA cyclists, other team members are fromQueensland, the ACT, Victoria and NSW. The team is not sanctionedby Cycling Australia.

"They're all fine. The early indications are they'll continue thetour," the spokeswoman said.

Meyer, who was on a training camp in Italy with the Olympic team,would not be commenting on Lee's arrest, the spokeswoman said.

WA cycle administrator shocked

The Vice Chairman of Track Cycling WA this morning said he wasshocked by the allegations.

"I'm not a great fan of Rick Lee, but the allegations wouldsurprise me," Tony Harman said.

"I wouldn't think he'd be that stupid."

Mr Harman said whether the rape allegations were proven or not, adark shadow would be cast over Lee's coaching career.

"If this is proven, it would be a massive stigma for his coachingcareer," Mr Harman said.

"He'd be gone.

"If he is found guilty, he wouldn't be allowed to coach again,obviously.

"That would be a vast no-no in any sport. He's dealing withjuniors, that's his forte.

"Even if it is not proven, the stigma will still be around. Thatsort of thing hangs around like a bad smell.

"Everyone looks sidewards at you."

Mr Harman said he disagreed with some of Mr Lee's coachingtechniques.

"I think his methods are a bit extreme," he said.

Mr Harman said he'd known Lee for many years, but did not considerhim a friend.

Cycling WA says "innocent until proven guilty"

Chairman of Cycling WA, Tom Fico, was tight-lipped on the allegedrape.

"We believe he is innocent until proven guilty," Mr Fico said.

"Until there's been a full investigation, we will not be making anycomment."

Mr Fico said Lee was no longer formally a state coach.

"He operates as an independent service provider to Midland club,"Mr Fico said.

The WA Department of Child Protection could not say whether Lee hasa Working with Children Check, required under WA law for peopleworking with children under 18.

A DCP spokesman said the information was not available because ofprivacy provisions in the legislation.