CHARLESTON—Louis “Skip” ReVille, a coach and educator who has admitted to sexually abusing minors, did not receive background screening nor did he attend a safe environment training session while he was a tennis coach at Bishop England High School, according to a statement from the Diocese of Charleston.
“The diocese regrets this very much,” the Nov. 23 statement read.
Maria Aselage, director of media relations, said the diocese is unaware of any Bishop England student who has reported being abused by ReVille while he was the men’s tennis coach at the school from 2008-10.
The Diocese of Charleston adopted a policy in 2003 that required all employees and volunteers with regular access to youth to undergo the screening and training. Aselage said they do not know why ReVille wasn’t screened when he was hired. David Held was the principal at the time, but left in 2010 to take a position as head of Mount de Sales Academy in Macon, Ga.
Aselage said the new principal, Michael Bolchoz, has taken steps to see that all employees and volunteers at Bishop England High School are in compliance with the diocese’s policy.
ReVille is set to appear in bond court today. He is alleged to have nine victims in Mount Pleasant and will face charges for criminal sexual conduct with a minor in connection with five boys in Hanahan, according to the Post and Courier newspaper. Although the number of victims has not yet been determined, investigators said ReVille confessed to charges that he sexually assaulted boys ages 13-15. He was arrested Oct. 28 and remains in the Charleston County jail with bail set at more than $1 million.
Reville, 32, is a 2002 graduate of The Citadel and the married father of triplets. He was a teacher and assistant coach at Pinewood Preparatory School in Summerville, a tennis coach at Bishop England, a coach at the Mount Pleasant Recreation Department, a basketball coach at Moultrie Middle School, a travel-league basketball coach, a coach at Velocity Sports Performance in Mount Pleasant, a volunteer basketball coach at Rollings Middle School of the Arts in Summerville, a foster parent to four children and a youth group leader at Eastbridge Presbyterian Church in Mount Pleasant, according to the Post and Courier.
ReVille is also being investigated for lewd behavior with boys at The Citadel’s summer camp in 2002.
Bishop Robert E. Guglielmone of the Diocese of Charleston has requested that the Bishop England family and former members of the 2008-10 tennis teams contact law enforcement officials if they possess any information relevant to ReVille and the case, or to the existence of any additional victims.
“As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, let us be thankful for our children and for the joy they bring to our lives,” the bishop stated. “Let us also continue to pray for all victims of child sexual abuse.”