Former Youth Volleyball Coach Accused Of Grooming, Soliciting Child

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — A 44-year-old McHenry man, who was a former volleyball coach for Ski High Volleyball, has been arrested on charges of indecent solicitation of a minor and grooming.

Phillip S. Bromley, of the 200 block of Creekside Trail in McHenry, was arrested on Wednesday following an undercover investigation by the Lake county Sheriff's Office Special Investigations Group and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Bromley is a former youth volleyball coach with Sky High Volleyball in McHenry County, Christopher Covelli, deputy chief for the Lake County Sheriff's Office, told Patch in an email response.

Authorities say detectives who posed as a girl under the age of 14 years old began communicating with Bromley online. Bromley tried to entice the girl to meet with him for the purpose of a sexual relationship, according to police. He set up a time with the "girl" and traveled to Lake County to meet her but was met by detectives with the Special Investigations Group.

He has been charged with indecent solicitation of a minor, traveling to meet a minor and grooming.

Authorities are urging anyone who may have been victimized by Bromley to file a report with their local law enforcement agency.

Scott Harris, executive director for Sky High Volleyball, said Bromley worked part-time as a coach for Sky High between November 2008 and June 2013. Sky High released the following statement regarding Bromley:

"Sky High has not had any contact with Mr. Bromley since his departure and has not been affiliated with our program for a decade. Our governing body, Great Lakes Region/USA Volleyball, runs thorough background checks on all coaches and they are mandated to take the USA IMPACT training before coaching any minors. Since March of 2017, the SAFESPORT training is also now required for all coaches. Sky High has been around since 1989 and has been one of the leaders in the club sports industry for training and performance. Sky High prides itself on placing many safeguards in our venues to help keeps our players safe at all times."

Following the incident, Lake County Sheriff John Idleburg reminded parents about the importance of monitoring the social media use of their children.

“Our Special Investigations Group apprehended another man who used social media to prey on our most vulnerable. We continue to stress the importance to parents and guardians — be vigilant and monitor who your children are talking to on social media," Idleburg said. "Predators commonly use these applications to entice children.”

Bromley remains held in the Lake County Jail and is expected to make an initial court appearance this morning.