Team Summit coach fired after arrest on charges related to sexual assault of juvenile team member
Jared Hedges, a Frisco resident, was arrested at Taos Ski Valley while on a ski trip with Team Summit, according to the Taos County Sheriff's Office
Taos County Sheriff’s Office/Courtesy photo
Editor’s note: Unless individuals hold positions of public trust or there is imminent danger of harm to the public (e.g., active shooter) or there is an exceptional circumstance, suspects arrested/charged will not be named/identified until there is a conviction or a plea deal is taken.
Team Summit has fired a coach after his arrest on charges related to a report that a juvenile was sexually assaulted during a ski competition in Taos, New Mexico, according to a statement from the Summit County-based team.
The Taos County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that deputies arrested Jared Hedges, 48, of Frisco, at Taos Ski Valley on March 22 on felony charges of criminal sexual penetration of a minor and criminal sexual contact. Following his arrest, he was transported to the Taos County Adult Detention Center.
“We are shocked and horrified by the news that one of our coaches has been accused of sexual assault of a minor on one of our teams,” Team Summit executive director C.B. Bechtel said in a statement. “Team Summit takes these allegations seriously, as the well-being of all of our athletes is important.”
Team Summit has reported the allegation against Hedges — an Alpine coach who was on a ski trip with his athletes — to the U.S. Center for SafeSport as required by the U.S. Ski & Snowboard, the governing body for the youth team, Bechtel said, adding that Team Summit has terminated Hedges.
The Center for SafeSport, which conducts background checks and provides training for coaches, has temporarily suspended him, according to its website.
Team Summit has remained in regular contact with the family of the athlete and other team members who were traveling to the competition in Taos, Bechtel said. The team has also made a professional therapist available to any of its athletes, family, or staff members, he added.
“We are cooperating fully with the local authorities, SafeSport, and other authorities in their investigation,” he said.
Hedges did not immediately return a media request for comment on April 2.
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