BURNSVILLE, Minn. (WCCO) — A former Twin Cities hockey coach has been sentenced for sexually assaulting a student.
James Brent Vandusartz, 57, was charged with criminal sexual conduct in the third degree. He was sentenced to 15 years probation and cannot have contact with minor girls without prior authorization.
He must also register as a sex offender and cannot use alcohol or drugs.
Vandusartz was suspended from his job at Blake School. He coached the Junior Varsity Girls Hockey Team. He’s also known for coaching goalies from other teams in the Twin Cities.
Police said the victim is not a Blake student and the incident did not happen at the Blake School campus in Hopkins. Police believe it happened last November at the coach’s own home off of West Preserve Boulevard in Burnsville.
The student, between 16 and 18 years old, reportedly came to the home “multiple times” for some type of hockey coaching. The sexual incident allegedly happened last December while the student was there.
According to court papers, Vandusartz told a Burnsville police officer it was possible he sexually touched the student “in the heat of the moment,” but he’s not exactly sure.
That student called police and gave them voicemail messages Vandusartz is accused of leaving, along with e-mails he allegedly sent.
Police then arranged for a phone call and listened in as the two set up another meeting at the coach’s home.
In that phone call, Vandusartz told the student he “felt there was a spark between them,” and while they didn’t have to be “lovers, he thought the student enjoyed getting pleasure from him and he enjoyed giving it.”
Officers came along to the meeting and arrested Vandusartz.
