Former Linn-Mar assistant track coach sentenced to 14 years in sex abuse of 2 students

CEDAR RAPIDS — A judge Tuesday told a former assistant Linn-Mar High track coach “you are not the victim here” after Kameron Beets said his life had been “shattered” after he was charged with sexually abusing two teenage male students in 2021.

Sixth Judicial Judge Ian Thornhill made the remark as he sentenced Beets, a former Linn-Mar assistant track coach, to 14 years in prison.

In a statement to the court, Beets, 32, of Cedar Rapids, said pieces of his life “were shattered” after his arrest. He lost his job, career and a business, which “broke” him. He said he wasn’t a career criminal and pointed out his lack of criminal history to Thornhill more than once.

The statement noted Beets’ “empathy, compassion and selfless and altruistic” works in the community as a school supervisor, assistant boys varsity track coach and volunteer.

Beets also noted he’d had no violations while on pretrial release in the past two years when his trials were reset at least eight times because Beets changed lawyers multiple times.

In May, Beets pleaded guilty to third-degree sexual abuse, a felony, and sexual exploitation by a school employee, an aggravated misdemeanor, in a case involving a 17-year-old student. The other charge of second-degree kidnapping was dismissed, as part of the plea agreement.

He also pleaded guilty in a separate case, involving a 15-year-old student, to assault with intent to commit a sexual abuse without injury, an aggravated misdemeanor. The other charge of lascivious conduct with a minor was dismissed.

Beets, in making what is called Alford pleas, didn’t admit guilt but admitted the prosecution had enough evidence to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Trust violated

  Buy Photo

First Assistant Linn County Attorney Monica Slaughter told the court it was “extremely troubling” that Beets has used his position of authority to “groom children to fulfill his sexual desires.”

She said it’s not surprising the teens didn’t want to attend the sentencing hearing and give victim impact statements. He “embarrassed and humiliated them,” harming their overall well-being, she said.

“He violated every piece of trust,” she said.

One victim submitted a written statement to the court, which the judge considered, but it wasn’t made public during the hearing or in the court records.

Slaughter also pointed out that Beets didn’t express remorse and took no responsibility by making Alford pleas.

Slaughter asked Thornhill to run Beets’ sentences — a 10-year and two two-year terms — consecutively, for a total of 14 years, based on the “heinous nature of the crimes” and because the acts were separate cases, involving two victims.

  Buy Photo

Kristymarie Shipley, Beets’ lawyer, requested concurrent sentences for a total of 10 years.

Shipley noted Beets had “dedicated” his life to youth sports and lost his career. He also has no criminal record and complied with the legal process after he was charged, she said.

‘The harm’

  Buy Photo

Thornhill ran the sentences consecutively for up to 14 years — the maximum. He also ordered Beets to serve a special lifetime parole because this was a sex offense and he must comply with the sex offender notification requirements.

The no-contact orders to protect the victims will each be extended five years.

The judge said this was an “appropriate” sentence because 10 years alone doesn’t “capture the harm” to the teens and these were two separate cases with two victims.

He said he also considered Beets was in a position of trust as a school employee, which is an aggravating factor.

The investigation

The 17-year-old Linn-Mar student told police that Beets, who was his coach, told the student to send him nude photos and videos of himself, according to a criminal complaint.

Beets met with the student on Sept. 27, 2021 in an office at Linn-Mar High School “to perform a physical analysis” for Beets’ personal “training program.”

During that meeting, Beets told the teen to undress, and he molested and sexually abused him and then confined him in a bathroom for more than 45 minutes while the teen was naked, the complaint stated. Beets took the teen’s clothes and refused to give them back.

In a separate case, the 15-year-old boy told police that Beets — his coach — asked him to send nude photos or videos of himself “for the purpose of evaluating and coaching him,” according to a complaint.

The teen met with Beets, as requested, on Sept. 25, 2021, at Linn-Mar High “to perform a physical analysis” for a “training program,” during which Beets told the teen to strip and then fondling his buttock and thigh, according to the complaint.

Police also collected digital forensic evidence in the case, the complaint stated.

In 2021 after Beets was arrested, Linn-Mar High School officials said in the statement they were aware of the allegations but said Beets had resigned as a student supervisor April 14, 2021, and his contract as an assistant track coach ended May 22, 2021. He continued to volunteer as an unpaid coach.

School officials also said they didn’t think any complaints were received by school administration to suggest “misconduct in a school-related context.”

Beets also had access to student athletes through his sports photography business and personal training program called BEAST Academy. Beets’ LinkedIn profile in 2021 stated he founded BEAST Academy in May 2020. The company’s social media accounts showed dozens of photos and videos taken at prep football games, baseball games, wrestling matches and other events, mostly in Eastern Iowa.

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com