Queens Little League Coach Accused Of Molesting 3 Players
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A Queens Little League coach accused of molesting three teenagers on his team collapsed during his arraignment Wednesday.
As prosecutors presented evidence against David Hartshorn, the suspect turned to his lawyer, said he didn't feel well and then collapsed.
Hartshorn recovered and the proceedings continued. He was charged with use of a child in a sexual performance and sexual abuse. Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said detectives recovered videos made with boys going back decades. The DA said the Hartshorn had the boys play games like poker. The loser had to perform a sex act in front of the others.
Hartshorn did not enter a plea; he has been ordered held without bail.
The former Rochdale Village Little League coach is accused of sexually assaulting at least three teenage players – ages 13 and 14 – from July 2009 until just recently. Prosecutors said one of the boys told his mother, who notified police.
1010 WINS Reporter Steve Sandberg spoke with Hartshorn's neighbor
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Brown told 1010 WINS that authorities executed a search warrant at Hartshorn's home Tuesday night and found videotapes of the alleged encounters.
Brown said Hartshorn was also the administrator of the league's Facebook account and authorities are following up with other children who have participated on the team.
Neighbors described Hartshorn as a big kid with children constantly going in and out of his Queens home.
"He's played with the children, all times of night, they're just here all weekend, they get together, they go out, they come back," Wanda Harris told 1010 WINS' Steve Sandberg. "We never knew a thing."
"I am so shocked. I am … blown away by this," Harris told Guzman.
Some residents are questioning the league's failure to properly screen their employees.
"If they're not doing background checks I need to know why because somebody that's around children they should be properly screened," Nicole Coleman said.
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