Goldsboro Family YMCA CEO Mark Pritchett sent an email to YMCA members on the evening of Dec. 8 notifying them that a visiting minor had been sexually assaulted in June by a member while at the YMCA.
In reference to a YouTube video discussing the incident, Pritchett said, “There was a narrative that was created, and there was no need for us to put (the incident) out there. When you think about the safety and privacy of the family and the people involved. If they wanted that out, they would have put that out there. Our letter was clarifying the misinformation in the video that was put out pertaining to the YMCA. We wanted to be fairly represented and let people know what steps we’re taking and what was being done, because the video didn’t include any of that. The video breeds the narrative that we covered something up, and that’s not true. Again, the letter was to get out clarity on steps that were taken and where we’re out with this entire thing.”
According to a police report obtained by Goldsborodailynews.com, the incident in question occurred on June 26.
The email from Pritchett states in part, “As soon as we learned of the allegation, we enacted our child abuse prevention protocols and contacted the authorities. Upon being notified of the incident, our immediate concern was for the well-being of the young person involved. We promptly moved the victim to a secure and comforting environment within our facility, ensuring their safety while we awaited the arrival of the authorities. During this time, our staff provided compassionate support, doing everything possible to comfort and reassure the victim in this distressing situation. Additionally, we took all necessary steps to protect the privacy of the victim and their family, recognizing the importance of confidentially in such delicate situations. Our team is trained to handle such sensitive matters with care and empathy, and we strove to ensure that the young person felt and supported as possible. We fully cooperated with the Goldsboro Police Department’s Investigation, giving unlimited access to video surveillance footage during the reported incident. We also terminated the accused’s membership and banned the member from all Y property. We recently learned that the police investigation is now complete.”
When reached by phone for comment on Sunday evening, Pritchett told Goldsborodailynews.com that the delay in notifying the Goldsboro Family YMCA members and the community about the incident was out of respect for the privacy of the victim and their family.
“For the safety and the privacy of the individual, with an open investigation, there was no need to put that out there,” Pritchett said. “That would have to come from permission through that particular family. The letter that we sent out, the misinformation in the video that was made in regards to this, the letter was to clarify that. I believe that the YMCA was not properly represented in fairness and in truthfulness. Trying to adjust the false narrative, was the reason for the letter to all the members.”
According to Pritchett, the Goldsboro Police Department has turned its investigation of the incident over to the District Attorney’s office.
“I followed up (with the Goldsboro Police Department) even a few weeks ago to find out where the case was,” Pritchett “I had made a phone call, and I at least tried to get in contact with someone to figure out what’s going on, because we had not heard anything for a while.”
Pritchett did note that the member allegedly responsible for the sexual assault against the minor, had been fully vetted by the YMCA, including in a national sex offender registry, as are all other members.
“We vet all members coming into the facility,” Pritchett said. “We vet all members through a national registry. That incident that occurred, we put that data batch through a sex offender database, and screening was conducted on this particular member. Everything came back clean and there was no previous record or any other cause for concern. We continue to vet all of the members and all coaches through this national sex offender data base. Any specifics about that particular day, I cannot comment on because it’s still an open case. Until that part is closed I would withhold any comment about the case.”
Pritchett also indicated that the Goldsboro Family YMCA has continued to follow the same protocols in place to keep children safe that it had prior to the incident in June.
“We have continued camera surveillance, safety protocols with young people, programs, direction, all those things are continuous,” Pritchett said. “Children are and always will be a top priority at the YMCA. There has not been a continual adjustment of anything, it’s the same protocols we’ve had in place and continue to have in place.”
