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Coach of several Metro Detroit volleyball teams accused of sexual conduct with children

Ryan Mortensen faces child sex charges

Ryan Thomas Mortensen (WDIV)

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – A man who coached college, middle school and community volleyball teams in Ann Arbor and other Metro Detroit areas has been accused of sexual misconduct with children, according to officials.

Ryan Thomas Mortensen, 38, of Ann Arbor, was a volleyball coach at Concordia University in Ann Arbor, the Michigan Elite Volleyball Academy based in Warren, the Huron Valley Volleyball Club in Saline, Clague Middle School in Ann Arbor and Schoolcraft College in Livonia.

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He was arrested Saturday in connection with an investigation by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, according to authorities.

Investigators said Mortensen was arrested at a home in Ann Arbor. Search warrants served at his home led to the confiscation of multiple electronic devices, police said. Authorities said they also obtained search warrants for his social media accounts.

He has been charged with one count of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, one count of child sexually abusive activity, one count of third-degree criminal sexual conduct and three counts of child sexually abusive material possession.

He was arraigned Saturday and is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.

If convicted, Mortensen faces up to life in prison for the first-degree CSC charge, 20 years for the child sexually abusive activity charge, 15 years for the third-degree CSC charge and four years for the child sexually abusive material charges.

A spokesperson from Concordia said Mortensen hasn't worked for the university since the 2017 volleyball season. He only worked at the university part-time, the spokesperson said.

Here's a statement from Ann Arbor Public Schools:

"In the Ann Arbor Public Schools, student safety is the top priority, and all matters of student safety are taken very seriously. The Ann Arbor Public Schools will continue to respond appropriately as information becomes available, however we do not comment on pending criminal cases."

A spokesperson from Ann Arbor Public Schools told Local 4 the district doesn't technically employ the coaches because they're contracted out. He said Mortensen isn't coaching anything right now because it's not volleyball season.

Here's a statement from Schoolcraft College:

"The health and safety of our students is the paramount focus at Schoolcraft College. We work with a third party, Edustaff LLC, who is involved in the hiring of coaches for many institutions to thoroughly investigate all potential coaching hires. Throughout the rigorous vetting process, no red flags were raised in Mr. Mortensen's background. As soon as we became aware of the allegations, we terminated our relationship with Mr. Mortensen and barred him from campus."

Local 4 contacted the Michigan Elite Volleyball Academy for comment.


About the Author
Derick Hutchinson headshot

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.

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