Christopher Pearson, a 49-year-old current resident of Marco Island, Florida, originally lived in the Lansing area in Michigan. He worked as a tennis coach at both Lansing Catholic High School and Michigan State University. Although Pearson has relocated to Florida since 2011, the police here in Michigan are determined to ensure that he face charges for allegedly molesting several young girls.
The case is somewhat complex. While Pearson is a former Michigan resident, and the alleged victims are also from Michigan, the sexual assaults are said to have taken place in Florida, where the charges are currently on record.
According to police, when Pearson moved to Naples, Florida, he took a job as a tennis coach at the Greater Naples YMCA, before moving on to the Marco Island YMCA. He also took a job coaching at Glen Eagle country club, which is where he was when he was arrested by Marco Island Police. If the story actually happened the way the police allege, then Pearson’s ties with Michigan were part of what caused this issue in the first place.
In 2015, two young girls came to Florida from Michigan, and stayed with Pearson at a family member’s condo on Marco Island. There, according to the girls, they were touched inappropriately by Pearson on a number of occasions.
During forensic interviews, which were conducted in the Lansing area, the girls claimed that Pearson showered with them regularly. They also alleged that he slept with them on a number of occasions while naked.
These interviews led to a Child Protective Services investigation into the girl’s claims, which were then relayed to the Marco Island Police in December of 2015. Later, in April 2016, additional information was forwarded to the Marco Island Police by the Michigan State Police
Subsequently, Pearson was arrested at the very end of July 2016, and has since been charged with two counts of molestation, and one count of sexual battery of a child under 12 years old. According to court records in Collier County, Florida, the presiding judge set Pearson’s bond at one million dollars.
During an interview with the Marco Island Police, Pearson denied all of the allegations. He also refused to submit to a polygraph test offered by the police. He has since entered a not guilty plea.
In Florida, lewd or lascivious molestation is a felony punishable by a maximum sentence of life in prison. Sexual battery of a child under 12 by an adult is considered to be a capital felony, and is punishable by up to life in prison, or the death penalty. Florida is one of 31 states in the U.S. where the death penalty is still allowed.