Blue Ridge AD, basketball star face sex charges

By Carey Phillips

Joe Brooks, 29, athletic director, baseball coach and physical education teacher, has been charged with first-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and promoting prostitution of a minor. He has just completed his first year at the school.

Jeremy Stewart, 18, a recent Blue Ridge graduate, faces seven counts of statutory rape. Stewart set school scoring records this past season and was honored by the Jackson County Athletic Hall of Fame as the Blue Ridge Outstanding Senior Athlete.

All charges against Brooks and Stewart are felonies. Both are scheduled to appear July 10 for preliminary hearings in Jackson County District Court.

Warrants indicate the incidents involved a 14-year-old female, who was a freshman at Blue Ridge this past school year.

Warrants state the incidents involving Brooks are alleged to have occurred on May 25. The warrants were issued Monday and served Tuesday. Brooks has been released after posting $40,000 secured bond.

The warrant for exploitation alleges that Brooks did "facilitate a minor... to engage in sexual activity having sexual intercourse for the purpose of live performance the defendant knowing the character of the performance."

The warrant for promoting prostitution alleges that Brooks did "knowingly entice, encourage or otherwise facilitate a minor... to participate in prostitution by providing a location, transportation and money."

Warrants indicate three of the incidents involving Stewart occurred Feb. 20 and four occurred March 1. The warrants were issued June 5. He is free after posting $5,000 secured bond.

Brooks has long been a coach in the Jackson County Little League program. Little League President Frank Watson said Brooks submitted his resignation Tuesday as manager of the Carolina Smokehouse team in the 11- and 12-year-old division.

Superintendent Mack McCary said he had met with Sheriff Jim Cruzan regarding an ongoing investigation at Blue Ridge involving school system personal and minors. He declined comment on any disciplinary action regarding Brooks.

McCary praised Cruzan and Blue Ridge Principal Lib Balcerek for their work in the investigation.

Cruzan said additional information about the charges would be released at an 11 a.m. news conference today (Thursday).

News Editor Lisa Majors-Duff and Associate Editor Lynn Hotaling contributed to this story.

Back to Archive: 06/07/01.