COLUMBIA — Michael Rucker, a former part-time assistant softball coach at Cardinal Newman School, was arrested June 10 on charges of criminal solicitation of a minor.
The coach was allegedly engaged in soliciting sexual relations from a minor student who is enrolled at Cardinal Newman. Rucker is prohibited from serving in any capacity or participating in any program at the school and any Diocese of Charleston sponsored activity involving minors.
In a June 11 press release, Stephen Gajdosik, the diocesan spokesman, said parents of the student informed the Cardinal Newman administration about the incidents on the afternoon of May 30.
The Diocese of Charleston immediately began an internal investigation of the allegation and reported the incident to the Forest Acres Police Department on June 2, Gajdosik said.
“This incident shows how parents, school officials and a strong sexual abuse policy can work together to help keep our children safe from sexual predators,” said Jacqualine Kasprowski, principal of Cardinal Newman.