MONTGOMERY, Ala. (TCN) — A former tennis coach will spend 25 years in federal prison after assaulting a student with a wooden board and beginning a sexual relationship with her when she was 13 years old.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Alabama announced that a judge sentenced 51-year-old Leroy Joyner Jr. on Aug. 8 to 300 months in prison for unlawfully transporting a minor across state lines with intent to engage in sexual activity. A federal jury convicted Joyner of the charge in January. Following his prison term, the defendant will remain on supervised release. Joyner must also pay restitution to the victim, which will be determined at a later date.
Joyner reportedly ran a tennis association in Dale County, Alabama, that offered lessons to underprivileged children and teens. In September 2018, prosecutors said law enforcement began looking into allegations that Joyner assaulted a 15-year-old student. Further investigation revealed that Joyner reportedly beat the victim with a wooden paddle “to influence her to obey him.” According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, authorities also learned Joyner began a sexual relationship with the teen starting in 2015 when she was 13 years old.
Prosecutors said Joyner “began taking her out of state to play in tennis tournaments.” He reportedly engaged in sexual acts with the victim in numerous states, including Georgia, Louisiana, and South Carolina. The sexual acts continued until authorities began their investigation.
United States Attorney Ross said, “This significant sentence reflects the harm that Joyner inflicted upon his young and vulnerable victim.”
FBI Special Agent in Charge Paul Brown added, “Yesterday’s sentencing was the result of law enforcement’s collective efforts to protect the children in our communities.”