Former Tiger Chad Curtis To Represent Self Via Video From Prison In Teen Sex Case
GRAND RAPIDS (CBS Detroit/AP) - Former Detroit Tigers player Chad Curtis plans to represent himself in a civil lawsuit in federal court in Michigan via a video link from prison.
Curtis, 46, is serving seven years, one month to 15 years in prison for sexual misconduct with teenage girls in western Michigan.
The Grand Rapids Press reports an order filed in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids says Curtis will participate in the Aug. 31 hearing by videoconference unless the issues are resolved earlier.
Curtis wants to personally depose the four plaintiffs, but their lawyers say that's not appropriate. The judge also will consider other issues in the case.
Girls at Lakewood High School said Curtis touched them inappropriately while he was working as a volunteer weight-room trainer in 2012. Curtis was poised to become the head football coach at the school, near Lake Odessa, but resigned when the criminal complaint surfaced.
During a probable cause hearing, two teen girls gave their accounts of how the alleged molestation happened.
Curtis denies the allegations but declined to testify at trial.
Curtis played Major League Baseball from 1992-2001. He played for the Tigers in 1995-1996.
TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.