BENTONVILLE -- Prosecutors have filed seven felony charges against a former area swim coach.
Stephen James Duwel, 50, of Rogers appeared in court Monday for his arraignment in Circuit Judge Robin Green's court. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. Duwel is free on $75,000 bond.
The Charges
A Class A felony is punishable with a prison sentence ranging from six to 30 years. A Class B felony carries a prison sentence from five to 20 years. A Class C felony is punishable with a prison sentence ranging from three to 10 years. A Class A misdemeanor is punishable with up to a year in jail.
Source: Staff report
Duwel is charged with internet stalking of a child, a Class A felony; engaging children in sexually explicit conduct for use in visual or print medium, a Class B felony; five counts of distributing, possession or viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child, a Class C felony; and fourth-degree sexual assault, a Class A misdemeanor.
He was arrested July 20 in connection with internet stalking of a child and sexual assault. He was accused of having sexual contact with a 14-year-old boy and using a computer online service or the internet to communicate with the teen.
Shane Wilkinson, Duwel's attorney, declined to comment on the case.
Duwel was a volunteer swim coach at Bentonville High School. He also was head coach for Northwest Arkansas Aquatics swim team.
Mike Poore, Bentonville School District superintendent, said after Duwel's arrest that Duwel had no contract with the district and he was directed to cease all contact with district personnel and students.
Frederick Quandt, swim club president, said Duwel was fired July 22.
Duwel's arrest came after a relative of the boy reported to Rogers police the teen was involved in a sexual relationship with an older male, according to a probable cause affidavit.
The teen told police he met Duwel through a smartphone application, according to the probable cause affidavit. The teen said he had to enter his age as 18 to use the application, according to the affidavit. The teen said he initiated contact with Duwel, according to the affidavit.
Duwel and the boy exchanged phone numbers two or three months after they began to talk through the app, according to the affidavit. They met at a Springdale roller rink, according to court documents. Duwel and the teen went to see a movie together, and the teen visited Duwel's home, according to the affidavit.
Duwel told police about an encounter where he gave the boy a massage at Duwel's home, the affidavit states.
Police found text messages between Duwel and the teen, according to court documents. The teen told Duwel in one text message he was in the eighth grade and would be 15 on his birthday. Duwel replied they could only be friends and "making out" would be about as far as they could go, the affidavit states.
Duwel told police he thought the teen was 18 when he first contacted him, but he didn't stop texting him when he learned his true age, according to the affidavit.
Duwel told police he had photographs on his cellphone, but denied taking any nude photographs of his athletes, according to court documents.
A court hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Sept. 30.
NW News on 09/01/2015