Former Clear Creek Amana softball coach pleads to sex abuse of student in 2006-07

IOWA CITY — A former softball coach at Solon High School and Clear Creek Amana High School pleaded guilty Tuesday to sexually assaulting a 14- or 15-year-old girl about 17 years ago.

James Anthony White, 59, of North Liberty, charged with two counts of third-degree sexual abuse and two counts of sexual exploitation by a school employee, pleaded guilty in Johnson County District Court to one count of third-degree sexual abuse and enticing a minor away with intent to assault.

White, during the plea hearing, admitted to sexually assaulting the victim when she was 14- and 15-years-old, from January 2006 through December 2007. He also admitted to enticing away the victim with intent to commit assault.

Sixth Judicial District David Cox said, as part of the plea agreement, the 10- and five-year prison sentences will run consecutively but will be suspended and White will receive probation. The sentencing judge will determine the length of probation.

Johnson County Attorney Rachel Zimmermann Smith said the victim had been consulted about the plea agreement and agreed to it.

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White also will be ordered to comply with the requirements of the sex offender registry and be on a special sentence of parole for life, Cox said. A no-contact order to protect the victim also will extended for five years.

A woman, who was student of White’s during the 2006-07 school year and was coached by him on the Clear Creek Amana softball team, told police in March 2022 about the sexual abuse incidents, according to a criminal complaint.

The woman, who was 15 when White was her teacher and coach, told police she was groomed by White and they had a sexual relationship.

White, who was 43 at the time, called the 15-year-old and asked her to meet him on a gravel road in rural Johnson County, according to the complaint. The woman said White gave her directions and asked her not to hang up the phone while she drove to meet him.

In another incident, she said White invited her over to his house while his wife, who also was a high school softball coach, was out of town coaching in a state softball tournament.

When White was arrested last year, the Clear Creek Amana Community School District issued a statement acknowledging the arrest and stated it was fully cooperating with investigators.

“These actions are intolerable and not representative” of Clear Creek Amana High School or Clear Creek Amana Community School District employee standards of conduct, the statement said.

White was a teacher and softball coach at Clear Creek Amana for several years before leaving in 2012 to coach at Solon High School. He coached softball at Solon until 2017, then returned as an assistant baseball coach for the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

His contract at Solon ended the summer of 2022, according to Solon School District Superintendent Davis Eidahl.

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In 2017, White was named the National High School Coaches Association coach of the year.

Eidahl said there had not been any misconduct reports or school district investigations related to White during his time at Solon.

White also coached various sports at Clear Creek Amana High School and Middle School during the last few years. He resigned from Clear Creek Amana in June, according to the school district.

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