Judge eases restrictions on Coquille track coach

By Alexander Rich, Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 | 3 comment(s)

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NORTH BEND - Coquille High School's former track coach pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges she had sex with one of her athletes.

Coos County Circuit Court Judge Paula Bechtold arraigned Wendi S. Boutiette, 36, on charges of second-degree sex abuse, and two counts of third-degree sex abuse. Bechtold did ease restrictions Boutiette. She will be allowed to visit family members in Washington and attend her sons' parent-teacher conferences. The court had previously said Boutiette couldn't leave the state or set foot on Coquille School District property.

Boutiette's attorney, David Terry of Roseburg, asked if Boutiette could drive her children to and from school, but Bechtold denied this request.

That's not Boutiette's only court action.

Her lawyer, David Terry of Roseburg, also filed a motion to get about 200 photographs returned to Boutiette that were taken during police investigations. Terry said the photos of his client wearing lingerie are not relevant to the case.

"The photos contain no sexual activity or other people in the photographs," Terry said.

Terry contended Coquille Police Chief Mark Dannels made copies of the photos.

"They're photos of my client taken by her husband in the privacy of their home," Terry said. "They're not nude photos; they're personal photos of a kind of playful nature. For the chief to have wanted them, let alone make ... copies of them, just mystifies me."

Dannels said the copies were made for the DA's offices in Coquille and Roseburg. It will be up to the prosecutor to release them.

He subpoenaed Dannels and Coos County District Attorney R. Paul Frasier, but he requested they appear at Coos County Courthouse in Coquille. The court hearing Tuesday was held in the North Bend annex. The issue was left unresolved.

Coquille police, who arrested Boutiette on Feb. 14, said the case stems from an incident in 2006 involving a teenage boy who was on the Coquille High School track team.

Boutiette's attorney has denied she ever had physical contact with the former athlete. Boutiette was the head track coach last year and previously served as an assistant. She resigned following her arrest.

The Douglas County District Attorney's Office is handling the case, after Frasier recused his office due to his and his staff's acquaintance with Boutiette. She is scheduled to appear in court at 8:30 a.m. on April 30 for a change plea hearing.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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Coquille Parent wrote on Mar 20, 2009 11:47 AM:

Well either that, or because Coquille is full of other Criminals, she's getting some privacy. I'm sure Wendi is happy to not be the town talk....for now!!

HOW DARE YOU wrote on Mar 19, 2009 8:38 AM:

I agree. I posted a comment and it said absolutely nothing wrong and it isnt on here!!!

Deletor wrote on Mar 19, 2009 7:39 AM:

Either this story is being ignored altogether or the comment monitors are working overtime. Maybe you you should add to your terms and conditions: "no commments that are remotely provocative in any way or critical of our sponsors will be permitted." There is a reason newspapers are dying.


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