Charges stem from sex acts with minor

GREENUP, KENTUCKY — Two men connected with the now-defunct Gem City All-Stars have been indicted in Kentucky on sex-related charges.

Former coach and co-owner William Perry, 31, of Wurtland, Kentucky, was arrested on the evening of Aug. 13 by the Kentucky State Police on one count of first-degree sexual abuse and two counts of third-degree sodomy. He was released on bond after an arraignment on Thursday.

James Boggs, 38, of Wurtland, Kentucky, the owner and operator of the Gem City All-Stars, has already been indicted in Lawrence County on 26 charges relating to accusations of sex with a minor. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The counts are for 26 times that it is alleged that Boggs “on or about March 1, 2018 through May 31, 2018, in Lawrence County did engage in sexual contact” with an unidentified 16-year-old male, who is not the spouse of Boggs while the male was a minor and was the boy’s athletic or other type of coach.

On Aug. 9, he was indicted in Kentucky on charges of use of a minor under 18 in a sexual performance, four counts of third-degree sodomy and one count of first-degree sexual abuse.

The Kentucky cases are based on allegations that the acts happened in the Commonwealth.
Ironton Police Detective Joe Ross said that the cases in both states involve the same male victim.

“It is the single victim,” Ross said.

The detective said he has gotten many calls wondering if Boggs and Perry were going to be charged in Kentucky. He said detectives have been working on the case with the Kentucky State Police on a daily basis on getting them charged in Kentucky.

“We think the victim deserves justice in both states,” Ross said. “We are glad that Boggs has been indicted and that Perry is in jail. We think that our kids deserve to be protected when they were just trying to learn from cheer coaches. We are satisfied with the turnout so far.”

Perry had an arraignment in the Greenup Circuit Court of Judge Robert Conley on Thursday afternoon. He was appointed a public defender, attorney Raese McKenzie, since he is indigent as the only job he had was with his partner Boggs at Gym City All-Stars and that has closed.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released on bond.

He will be staying with a relative in Carter County, Kentucky.

The judge ordered Perry to have no contact with the victim, to not be a coach, to not drink or do drugs and to have a dusk to dawn curfew.

The 20th Circuit prosecutor Maridell Malone asked to seal the evidence in the case “due to the nature of the case.”

Judge Conley agreed.

“The allegations involve a minor. It is of a very sensitive nature, ” Malone explained after the arraignment. She said she doesn’t expect the case to go to trial until next spring. “Just because the court’s trial docket is very heavy.”

It is the policy of The Tribune not to identify minors or victims in sexual crimes.

Anyone who has information in this case can contact IPD Detective Joe Ross at 740-532-5606.