After founder admits to child sex crime, Johnson County soccer coaches start new club
Less than a month after the founder of a Johnson County youth soccer club pleaded guilty to a child sex crime, the entire coaching staff of his former club resigned, according to an email sent to parents.
Jason Cummins, founder of Arson FC, pleaded guilty last month to attempted aggravated indecent liberties with a child after he allegedly touched a teen soccer player in his home without her consent last year. He stepped aside from running the club but his wife, Angie Cummins, took over.
The teen’s mother said Angie Cummins told players and parents that the allegations were lies.
In an email addressed to parents Monday Arson FC coaches announced that the entire coaching staff resigned that morning. The coaches, the email said, were forming a new club — the Johnson County Soccer Club.
“Over time, the differences between us and the organization have grown to a point where there was no way to resolve them other than the present course of action,” said the email, which a parent forwarded to The Star. “While this is regrettable, it is in the best interest of everyone involved: especially the families and players.”
The email does not mention the allegations against Cummins.
Parents were invited to a meeting for further information.
The email said that soccer players in the new club would maintain the same coaches, games and practice schedule and directed parents to cancel payments to Arson FC.
By Tuesday, all information had been removed from the Arson FC website and phone lines listed had been disconnected.
The Star was unable to reach Jason and Angie Cummins for comment. The leaders of the Johnson County Soccer Club did not immediately respond to The Star’s request for comment.
Arson FC allegations
Cummins was originally charged in May following a November incident in which he allegedly touched a teenage girls buttocks and forced her to sit on his lap at his Shawnee home.
The Star generally does not name potential victims of sexual assault or harassment without their permission.
In an interview with The Star the teen and her mother said they believed Cummins had been grooming the teen since she was in eighth or ninth grade. Grooming is a term to describe potential abusers conditioning a victim to accept inappropriate treatment.
Cummins, they said, had coached the teen since she was 9 years old. The teen’s mother said last month that she was concerned Cummins was still “profiting off kids” while his wife ran the soccer club.
Though initially charged with aggravated indecent liberties with a child, Cummins pleaded to the lesser charge of attempted aggravated indecent liberties with a child.
He registered as a sex offender and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 23.
