Batavia sex offender faces new charges over baseball coaching gig

A registered child sex offender was arrested in Batavia Saturday on charges of being in a public park, when he was not allowed.

The charges stem from Jeffrey Wiedemann being a coach for a baseball team on which his child plays, according to Batavia police Deputy Chief James Dixon.

Wiedemann is charged with knowingly being present in a park or public building when children younger than 18, exclusive of his own child, were present; and working, managing or volunteering at a facility providing programs or services exclusively directed to persons younger than 18, excluding his own child. Both are Class 4 felonies.

Wiedemann, 37, of the 800 block of First Street, was released on bail Saturday, police said.

Ken Clingen, a member of Batavia Youth Baseball's board of directors and its counsel, confirmed Wiedemann was a coach for four practices starting Aug. 12, for a fall-league team. "I would like to coach my son's team if possible," Wiedemann wrote on his son's application for the team, Clingen said.

Regardless, "He (Wiedemann) was the one who knew he" couldn't serve, Dixon said.

BYB conducts criminal background checks through the Illinois State Police on all people who apply to be coaches, Clingen said, but the checks were delayed due to a "conflict in scheduling" among league officials. Wiedemann filled out a form authorizing such a check, Clingen said.

Another coach found out Wiedemann's status in a preliminary check, and the group dismissed him immediately. The group met with coaches and parents Aug. 18 to explain what happened, and called police, Clingen said.

A parent who attended that meeting also called police.

"This will never happen again," Clingen said.

The baseball organization is changing its procedures by asking the Batavia Park District to process the background checks; because the district has paid workers who handle such things, the checks will get done faster than relying on volunteers, as BYB has done. The baseball group leases fields from the park district and the city. It runs leagues for children ages 5 to 17.

Clingen said it appears Wiedemann was never alone with a child; there were other parents and coaches present at the practices.

Wiedemann pleaded guilty in 2007 to possession of child pornography. He served 30 months probation. Because the state classifies him as a "sexual predator," he must register annually with the police department where he lives. Wiedemann has done so.

His next court date is Sept. 9.

Wiedemann could not be reached for comment.