A Manchester, N.H., professional youth baseball coach who was arrested Thursday faces multiple charges of sexually assaulting two boys he coached in Concord over a nine-year period.
Meanwhile, the FBI and area law enforcement agencies are investigating whether Robert A. Joubert, 58, may have sexually assaulted other youths he came in contact with through the Seacoast Baseball Academy he operates in York, Maine, or through his work as a baseball and hockey coach for area youth leagues during the last 15 years, Concord police said.
“We are concerned, given our experience with these types of crimes, that there could be other victims,” Concord police Lt. Timothy O’Malley said.
Joubert was ordered held on $450,000 cash after his arraignment at Concord Hospital’s emergency room, where he was being treated for a “medical condition” he suffered shortly before he was to appear in Concord District Court, O’Malley said.
Joubert is charged with four counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault for engaging in a “pattern of sexual conduct” against two boys under the age of 13 between 1995 and 2004, court records show. The felony complaints allege Joubert told the boys to touch his penis. The offenses allegedly occurred at various locations in Concord.
Joubert also is charged with one count of misdemeanor sexual assault.
A preliminary hearing will be held July 6.
According to O’Malley, Concord police made the decision to arrest Joubert on Thursday morning because Joubert was leaving the state. “Given the nature of the complaints … we had concerns about him engaging in ongoing activity,” O’Malley explained.
Concord police, with assistance from New Hampshire State Police, stopped Joubert while he drove on Interstate 93 in the Salem area between 9 and 10 a.m., O’Malley said.
Joubert lives at his elderly parents’ home at 144 Fairmont Ave. on Manchester’s east side where Manchester police assisted the FBI and Concord police in executing a search warrant for several hours Thursday.
A neighbor said Joubert was not often at the house. No one answered the door at the house Thursday night.
York, Maine, police received a complaint in March alleging Joubert had been involved in inappropriate sexual contact with minors, O’Malley said. As a result of that investigation, York police notified the FBI and Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. They, in turn, alerted Concord police in May of possible offenses that occurred in Concord, O’Malley said.
Joubert maintains a website promoting his Seacoast Baseball Academy, which is based at the York Sports Center on Route 1 in York, Maine. He describes himself as a professional baseball instructor with more than 30 years of experience coaching 5- to 18-year-olds in baseball.
“That is what he does. Does it give him access to kids? Yes. Are all of the victims in this case connected to that? Not necessarily,” O’Malley said.
O’Malley said police are trying to identify all area youth baseball leagues with which Joubert may have been associated. Police ask any organizations and the public with information about the case to contact police. A special telephone number has been set up at 1-800-CALL-FBI (hit prompt 9, then prompt 3). Calls also may be placed to Concord police at 225-8600 or Concord Regional Crimeline at 226-3100.
Manchester and Pembroke police, state police, the FBI and Hillsborough County Sheriff’s office also are investigating.
Joubert claims on his website that he was offered a free agent contract by the Montreal Expos as a catcher when he was 18.
“Coach Joubert knows that for a player to excel, he or she must be in a safe and fun environment where the instruction is clear and easy to follow, and skills are developed under the supervision of a gifted and experienced mentor,” Joubert’s website states.
(c)2012 The New Hampshire Union Leader (Manchester, N.H.)
Visit The New Hampshire Union Leader (Manchester, N.H.) at www.unionleader.com
Distributed by MCT Information Services
Another day, another perv. Present punishment doesn’t seem to deter these sickos.
This seems to be an epidemic lately…but thankfully all these scumbags are getting caught…..aside from all the damage they have done to these kids…..so sad
IMHO summer camps are next on the list to be scrutinized.
I’m getting tired of hearing about people sexually abusing young boys. Either this is a real epidemic, or some of these stories are being fabricated.
One reason for the epidemic of this sort of thing is the ridiculously long courses, their expense, and the financially -gouging- tenor of the certification processes required to become a youth coach.
These certifications are required by misguided insurance underwriters and are generally fulfilled by the American Red Cross and their affiliates.
The American Red Cross and its affiliates have set up a money-making scheme that certifies coaches that is so obscure, obfuscating and absurd -oftentimes- ONLY those who have an extraordinarily bizarre desire to get involved -ever- bother to jump through all the trick-pony-hoops to get certified.
I am currently following the -blind- maze America Red Cross has set-up to become a VOLUNTEER swim coach. In the small Northern Maine town of Limestone we have a nice indoor pool, but no swim team. We have not had a swim team for many years. This is because the certification processes are so expensive, time-consuming and over-the-top with repetition it has become prohibitive. There is no money to hire a swim coach. This is a volunteer opportunity -at best-.
The certification (if ever achieved) is only good for two years, and then you get to start all over again handing more money to America Red Cross bureaucrats and sitting through long courses that do not teach much more than how to cope with the mindless bureaucracy of the America Red Cross.
The American Red Cross comes out with a new course book every year, so the old one is no good. The certification processes are all about money. Follow the blind maze, and keep your checkbook handy. It is NOT about finding and qualifying good instructors to teach our kids about youth sports.
And look at the result!
I have been working at it now for approaching six months -AS AN UNPAID VOLUNTEER-, expending many hours, spending more than $500, commuting long distances to strained American Red Cross certification classes, and still, there is no end nor even an indication of all that is required. Honestly, it has been a sour experience despite my love of swimming.
I am qualified to be a lifeguard, and teach kids to swim. But I cannot coach. This video is me swimming at age 62. I swim exactly like that for over an hour five nights a week. You be the judge. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sq-y68xrZgw&feature=youtu.be
I have yet to become certified to coach. I am an avid swimmer. I took all the required courses and was certified a half century ago in my youth.
From what I have experienced, there should be no wonder the pedophiles end up controlling youth sports in this country. Between the money-grabbing intention of the American Red Cross, its many affiliates, and, the bean-counting absurdity of the insurance underwriters that insure our athletic facilities against liability, these bureaucracies are -in effect- making sure that pedophiles will rule youth sport.
Money and time have to be no object to get involved in youth sports, due to the strained and ridiculous certification processes of the American Red Cross and its affiliates, certifications that are required by insurance underwriters worried about freak accidents.
These monopoly certification bureaucracies are not the answer. These bureaucracies are making our youth sports in this country ineffective, and are at the same time ensuring youth sports forever will be the common stomping ground of sexual perverts -WHO WILL EXPEND THE TIME, MONEY and EFFORT to get what they want!
They want your kids. And the American Red Cross, their affiliates and the insurance underwriters have practically guaranteed that they will be the only ones who finish all the certification processes involved.
USA Swimming requires the following certifications and other items to be allowed to coach swimming in the USA.
First one must be certified in CPR/AED and 1st Aid. Second one must pass the Safety Training for Swim Coaches online exam (no cost) and take a skills test through a Lifeguard Instructor. If one is already a lifeguard they do not have to take this skills test when they show a valid lifeguard certification.
They must pass a background check every 2 years for a cost of $39, which does check every month to see if any new convictions arise over the two years until the next payment of $39. The last piece of the puzzle is to take an online Athlete Protection class that takes about 1 hour and there is no charge.
After one year of coaching, a coach must pass the Foundations of Swim Coaching class (online w/CD for $25) to continue as a USA Swimming coach.
USA Swimming has tried to be proactive in recent years with the many cases that arising in children’s sports. USA Swimming can not protect every athlete but what they have done is laid down conditions which could prevent someone with previous convictions from being hired. It has also set up a great online class to show how be aware of possible abusers.
Don if you are willing to operate a swim team in Limestone (that would be great), please email info@maineswimming.org and we will do all we can to do to help you.
At least the Sandusky case is starting to put a microscope on a terrible tragedy that happens daily that did not get enough attention. Hopefully Maine will join the ranks and start prosecuting these perverts the same way Sandusky is facing 150 years in prison!!!
I support the “throw away the key” type of sentence.
Anger? Yes.
Vengence? Yes.
Appropriate, for emotionally-damaging, life-disabling, relationship-crippling consequences?
YES, YES, YES.
Capital punnishment is too easy, lets them OFF easily:
Keep them alive and locked up, mirrors held in their faces – for the rest of their (so-called) “lives” … (it’s cheaper anyway).
Too bad this guy wasn’t a priest……he wouldn’t be held accountable, they’d reassign him to another location and cover it up for him….. pffffffffft.