Rape Suspect Coached Girls

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Rape Suspect Coached Girls

By Leslie Rupiper

A Sioux Falls man accused of raping a young girl, also used to coach girls on a YMCA basketball team. 46 year old Troy Thomas Fuller is charged with 1st Degree Rape and 3 counts of Possession of Child Pornography. But the fact Fuller used to coach young girls makes those charges even more disturbing for local parents.

Fuller is a well-known coach in the YMCA basketball circle. After his arrest, KSFY got several calls and emails from concerned parents who claimed he'd coached their girls. Sioux Falls Police confirm Troy Fuller was a volunteer girls basketball coach for the YMCA. Last week, Fuller was arrested in Sturgis on charges of rape and possessing child pornography. According to court documents, Fuller's former employer at Hot Stuff Foods found child pornography printed off the computer.  Police say they found even more kiddie porn when they searched his work laptop. When officers spoke with Fuller's ex-wife, she told them he was also accused of molesting a neighbor girl back in 1999. After interviewing that girl, police added the 1st Degree Rape charge.

Michelle Elrod is the mother of 2-year-old Katelyn. She's disturbed by the accusations against Fuller. Michelle says, "It's really scary. I work with youth and I think there's too many people taking advantage of the position that they're in." Even though it's now clear that Fuller was around a lot of young girls as a coach, Sioux Falls Police say at this time, they have no new allegations of misconduct against Fuller. Michelle Elrod says she knows she'll have to talk to her little girl about the dangers she faces. She says, "It seems like we say, it's South Dakota, nothing like that is gonna happen around here, but it ends up happening."

Police say officials with the YMCA told them each team has two coaches, to ensure coaches don't have extended on-one-one contact with the players. KSFY did speak with neighbors and parents of girls coached by Fuller.  While they didn't want to appear on camera tonight, they say they're shocked by the allegations against the former coach. Fuller remains in the Minnehaha County Jail. He's scheduled to be in court later this month.

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The following comments do not necessarily represent the views of KSFY.com. Users have agreed to these terms and in doing so accept full responsibility for their comments. Moderation is limited.

Tuesday, Aug 19 at 7:44 AM Anonymous wrote ...

To the comment posted Friday, Jul 25 at 3:09 PM from Anonymous - I agree that Pierce Mrieden does need to keep his mouth shut. Sad part is I am sure he hears things from his parents and is just repeating them. They need to remember their history with Troy & his ex-wife. Funny thing is there was a comment about them in this blog and it no longer is there. Wonder why??

Friday, Jul 25 at 3:09 PM Anonymous wrote ...

people who think this man is the worst person in sioux falls.. well.. you guys need to get over it.. he'll learn and know not to do this again... he was a great coach and had no sexual contact on his team.. he lead his team to and undefeated record in basketball. and this exwife is totally innocent.. not her fault.. pierce needs to be quiet.

Friday, Jul 25 at 6:58 AM Mother of 8 wrote ...

There is more to this whole story than any of us know. In time it will come out and may/will be quit a shock to everyone. I just pray that with the extra activities that Troy and his ex-wife par-took in with others in their old neighborhood haven't scared any other innocent lives. Just remember to keep a close eye on your children and do not hesitate to ask questions if something doesn't seem right. There are more monsters out their than any of us like to know about.

Friday, Jul 25 at 2:14 AM . wrote ...

No one should blame the exwife. She didnt know. How would you feel if someone blamed you for your exhusbands or exwifes actions. If you even know the family you dont know everything about them. So dont be saying anything you dont know (even if you dont know the family)!

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 7:33 PM Anonymous wrote ...

You guys need to seriously calm down and let the story develop... This exwife is totally innocent... You all need to leave her out of this situation. she doesnt need any part of it. the exhusband had an addiction and it wasnt the exwife's fault..

Monday, Jul 21 at 7:43 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Looks to me like the this didn't start up till the place he worked found the pic. now is when you'd know something was going on. Talk can ruin ones life -- if it's not true. Once the pics were found it should of all came out.

Thursday, Jul 17 at 12:15 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Why is KSFY the only station to carry this story? It hasn't been in the newspaper nor on any other channels or the paper that I am aware of. Who knows how many girls this man has been in contact with and what the potential is for others who may have been abused. People should not be pointing fingers at the ex-wife. She is not the one who has been accused of these crimes. The parents of the girl from 1999 had the option to press charges. If they didn't, they must have had their reasons.

Wednesday, Jul 16 at 12:37 PM Anonymous wrote ...

It makes me sick that some are turning and blaming the victims family or the ex. Keep in mind we are not in their shoes nor do we know the entire story. How many of you were sexually abused at a young age??

Wednesday, Jul 16 at 11:43 AM The System wrote ...

Isn't it a felony to conceal a felony?? Especially such a serious allegation as 1st Degree Rape??!! Why hasn't the neighbor or exwife been charged? Lock up the exwife and these parents of the alleged victim. They are a serious threat to society and their own children. Where do they live? Did Social Services intervene yet? Something is very wrong with this whole picture...

Tuesday, Jul 15 at 6:57 PM Sevyn wrote ...

This is appalling. This is a total railroading of an individual by the ex-wife with law enforcement and State Prosecutors playing an unwitting role. It makes no sense that for 9 years the parents of the alleged victim remained silent. It makes no sense that the exwife would remain silent either. I seriously doubt these allegations are true. Yet lives have been destroyed all due to the clear mental illness and vendetta waged by the ex.

Tuesday, Jul 15 at 11:23 AM Berry wrote ...

Again, why didn't the parents of the girl he raped back in 1999 report it to the police? What kind of parents wouldn't report a rape of their own child???

Monday, Jul 14 at 1:36 PM Anonymous wrote ...

What is wrong with our society today when an exwife is blamed for the alleged crime of her exhusband? She and her children are as much a victim as the child he allegedly molested. You can't MAKE them get help. Anyone who has ever lived with an addictive person knows how manipulating they are. They sneak and lie. They ruin you financially . They make promises they never keep but you want to believe them so badly that you do. You people don't know what she went through. I do, I'm her mother.

Monday, Jul 14 at 12:21 AM time will tell wrote ...

Lets just wait and see how this plays out.. even if he is found to be innocent his life is now ruined because of the media , they should of left him annonomous until he was found guilty not before, and believe me this ex wife has an axe to grind as I to know this family..

Saturday, Jul 12 at 7:31 PM John wrote ...

I have a hard time understanding the naivety of parents who express shock when it's discovered that a rapist pedophile is in their local environment. It's a parents responsibility to investigate the database of sexual predators, they're in EVERY CITY, or town since we're talking about S.D.. Remember that the news has shown state politicians, teachers, and church leaders who are given a menu of choices to choose from, so take your kid off the menu with "information".

Saturday, Jul 12 at 12:03 PM Anonymous wrote ...

To the 12:23am blogger. Maybe you should know the facts of this ex-wife and her behavior during this so called loving marriage. She has completely destroyed him. Before you blog, know what is going on.

Saturday, Jul 12 at 10:37 AM Anonymous wrote ...

If she's willing to throw it all away now, why not then? Why would she not say something & possibly let another little girl get hurt (if it really happened). He is innocent until proven guilty but if she knew about this all along why wouldn't she get him help? I know the family - very well. And while I don't agree with his actions, I don't agree with hers either. If she loved him so much - why wouldn't she want to help him? She's not completely innocent here..

Saturday, Jul 12 at 12:23 AM Anonymous wrote ...

If you knew your husband was doing this, would you risk EVERYTHING by telling the police about it? The man you loved and built a life with and you'd throw it all away? I highly doubt it. What he did was wrong but didn't Jesus say "Thou who hasn't sinned cast the first stone"? Judge all you want, drag his wife through the mud for actions she couldn't prevent. He made his own bed now let him lie in it but she should be able to live a normal life without being judged on actions of her ex-husband.

Friday, Jul 11 at 12:29 PM anonymous wrote ...

I think that part of the reason this sickness exists is the prevalence of pornography. It's destroying families and communities. Porn is allowed in the name of "tolerance" and "Free speech". People who become addicted to this porn need to be helped as well. Let's see what facts come out. Everyone is legally innocent until proven guilty. "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Martin Luther King Jr.

Friday, Jul 11 at 11:43 AM nick wrote ...

have these allegations been proven? Lets hang this guy befor we know the facts. Maybe the ex has an axe to grind? You all need to research the McMartin pre school case in the early 80's. We all get so emotional when our kids are involved. We want justice when what we should be seeking is the truth.

Friday, Jul 11 at 9:28 AM Amy wrote ...

What is wrong with that ex-wife? How can you live with that kind of knowledge and not report the creep?.

Thursday, Jul 10 at 10:00 PM Anonymous wrote ...

it seems a lot suspect that the allegations of rape were not reported int 1999. sounds as though the ex-wife should be arrested is this is true.

Thursday, Jul 10 at 9:56 PM Anonymous wrote ...

I thought this country was based on the fact of innocent until proven guilty before everyone makes a rush to judgment, let the facts come out.

Thursday, Jul 10 at 9:23 AM observer wrote ...

What a sick country we're becoming. I'm get sick and disgusted of hearing this everyday on the news. We need to stand up and fight this sickness and get the nasty molestors where they should be. Demand change from your legislators and congresman. This NEEDS to stop.

Thursday, Jul 10 at 8:00 AM Berry wrote ...

What I want to know is why wasn't he arrested in 1999 if he was suspected of molestation back then? Didn't the parents of the girl who was molested report it to police?

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