Floyd Ira Thompson, a former head coach for the Kemah-based track club, Mainland Jaguars, pleaded guilty to a charge of indecency with a child earlier this week.
Thompson, who had been a prominent figure in coaching, worked closely with many students, including a 16-year-old girl he had referred to as one of his favorite athletes. Court records indicate that Thompson took an interest in the girl in 2016—around the time she joined the track club. He claimed to take a special interest in her progress and offered to help her achieve her aspirations, including earning a scholarship.
Over time, Thompson began advising the student to alter her diet and later encouraged her to wear more form-fitting workout clothing. He also persuaded her to share explicit details about her relationship with her boyfriend. After her breakup with her boyfriend in 2018, Thompson assaulted her on at least four occasions, according to court documents.
The court records state that this conduct persisted over several months. Initially charged with sexual assault of a child, Thompson faced a jury trial in 2023. However, the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict.
On January 13, Thompson accepted a plea deal, reducing the charge to indecency with a child.
This case highlights growing concerns about authority figures who exploit their positions to harm vulnerable individuals.
Texas Scorecard recently reported on a children’s tennis coach in Montgomery County charged with invasive visual recording and indecency with a child by exposure. Montgomery County Precinct 3 Captain Adam Acosta commented on the issue, stating:
Whether they choose to seek out that job to put them in contact with children isn’t established, but it’s a common denominator that we do see with people we arrest and build cases on. We’ve put all walks of life in jail for being predators of children, but we see a common denominator with coaches, teachers, [and] clergymen, with access to some type of group of children.
As part of his sentence, Thompson received 10 years of probation and he must complete 160 hours of community service. Additionally, he will remain on the sex offender registry for 20 years and is required to cover the costs of the victim’s current and future mental health care.
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