Action 3 News - Omaha, Nebraska News, Weather, and Sports | BREAKING NEWS UPDATE: Coach Remains Free on Bond
Member Center:
Lincoln, NE - A Lincoln soccer coach, arrested on charges that he assaulted children, and held them against their will has bonded out of jail. He appeared in court on Thursday afternoon in Lincoln. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for July 12.
Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner says 57-year-old Sanford Kaplan was arrested Wednesday following complaints that numerous young boys were bound, blindfolded, gagged and suspended from the rafters of Kaplan's garage at 14647 Country Lane. "It was portrayed as a game, the juveniles were told to escape from the bindings," says Sheriff Wagner. Court affidavits show testimony from teens who says he used duct tape and rope. When they were blindfolded, they also say they heard him masturbating.
Sheriff Wagner says the investigation currently involves six boys between the ages of thirteen and fifteen, who claim they were held prisoner and abused at Kaplan's home beginning in 2001 and as recently as April 12. Kaplan was booked into jail for false imprisonment and child abuse. Wagner thinks there are other victims, some now as old as 23.
Lancaster County deputies searched Kaplan's home last week and seized bindings, a camera and a computer. In the court affidavits, Kaplan admits to investigators that he "knowingly and restrained (boys) and that it may have caused serious bodily injury," and that it was all done for sexual stimulation. In those court records, some of the boys descibe clothing they were forced to wear, including jeans, jean jackets, rubber gloves and hip waders
Soccer players at Lincoln Northeast High School tell Action 3 News they are shocked by the news. "I've never heard that he'd be like that, he's never let on to anyone that he'd be like that. He was a great guy, a great coach, everyone's favorite, so it's really shocking to everyone." says Lincoln Northeast soccer player Andrew Wesley.
His neighbor says that he spent lots of time at Kaplan's house but never saw anything suspicious.
Kaplan taught geology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He also coached for the Capital Soccer Association. Spokespersons for both the University and the CSA says Kaplan is no longer employed with either organization. Kaplan has also hosted high school foreign exchange students.
Sheriff Wagner says Kaplan's players often visited his home. He is asking parents whose sons have had contact with Kaplan ask detailed questions and look for unusual behaviors.
Questions to consider asking include:
If the answer to any of these questions is yes or if you have any other information, call the Lancaster County Sheriff at 402-441-7725.
Reported by Carrie Murphy, cmurphy@action3news.com
