More information on a 56-year-old man officials say sexually abused boys over a 15-year period has been released by the Delaware Department of Justice and Dover police as they ask the public for more information in the sex-abuse case involving Thomas Kennedy.
The agencies in an Oct. 14 press release said Kennedy served as a swim instructor at multiple YMCA facilities, the Siegel Jewish Community Center in Talleyville, and Maple Dale Country Club in Dover between 1997 and 2020. He was also a youth minister in the Dover area during the years of 1998 to 2009.
“Following the investigation opened after his initial arrest in July, police have so far identified three additional victims and are now asking for anyone with additional information to come forward,” a press release from the state Justice Department said.
A Delaware Online/The News Journal review of court documents found that investigators claim Kennedy was able to abuse young boys — the youngest being 11 — because of access he had to children and their families as a swim coach and youth advisor in different parts of Delaware.
More: A Delaware coach, youth leader, now charged with sexually abusing those placed in his trust
What happened
Kennedy was charged on July 30 with sexual abuse of a child by a person of trust after a young teen reported he’d been inappropriately touched by his former swim coach a few days earlier, according to court documents.
Dover police reported Kennedy’s arrest on July 31.
More: Dover man twice arrested, charged with sexually abusing a child after more victims emerge
Soon after that, three men arrived at separate times to the Dover police station to report Kennedy had sexually assaulted them when they were boys.
The Justice Department and Dover police are now asking that anyone with additional information to come forward. They also are asking if there are other potential victims or if anyone knows of someone victimized by Kennedy to contact Dover Police Department Public Information Officer Master Cpl. Ryan Schmid at Ryan.Schmid@cj.state.de.us.
Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: DE police ask for help in case of swim coach charged with sex abuse
