The Importance of Implementing Background Checks to Protect Kids from Sex Offenders in Youth Sports

Background checks for employees of youth athletic programs are taken more seriously than those for most other careers. These adults spend a good amount of time with the kids; more importantly, the coaches and officials employed by youth athletic programs have an opportunity to play a role in the lives of kids that can impact them for years to come. Therefore, programs such as San Angelo’s YMCA and the city’s programs, in partnership with the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation (TAAF), attempt to be as thorough as possible when running background checks on potential employees.

“We take [background checks] seriously, though, as far as the city goes, in just making sure everybody’s backgrounds are good and we’re not putting anyone at risk in our programs,” San Angelo recreation supervisor Diana Faulkner said.

Faulkner is employed by the city’s recreation department, which provides athletic activities to young people in the community in cooperation with TAAF. According to Faulkner, the referees who participate in TAAF events are all approved through the Texas Association of Sports Officials (TASO). Furthermore, TAAF runs background checks on their coaches by working with KRESS, a company dedicated to employment screening. The results of these tests are sent to the head of TAAF, who has final approval over each potential coach or assistant coach.

“If there’s any charges, anything having to do with any kind of assault with children, then [the applicant is] automatically banned from coaching in our organization,” Faulkner said.

Unfortunately, San Angelo has encountered the issue of a sex offender working with a youth athletic program in the past. San Angelo LIVE! recently learned from a source that a San Angelo man with a history of arrests, Thomas Wayne Jones, Jr., 41, officiated a game with the YMCA last year. This individual wished to remain anonymous. In 2003, Jones was charged with indecency with a child in Montgomery County. He was also arrested for 10 other crimes in San Angelo.

“We were short of refs [at the time] so that’s why [Jones] refed that one game,” YMCA personnel recruiter Patricia Longoria said. “As soon as we came back to do the background [check], we found that out and we released him.”

YMCA Sports Director Stacy Duffell said that the YMCA performs background checks on all their officials and coaches, and that the most YMCA officials are TASO certified. According to Duffel, the YMCA realized that Jones had a record when the organization ran a background check the day after James officiated the game. However, Duffell stated that the YMCA has improved their system of background checks, and it is against YMCA policy for any employee or volunteer to be alone with a child.

According to our source, Jones reportedly attempted to officiate baseball games in Miles this week. However, when citizens became aware of Jones' record, the games were canceled.