faces sex crime charges TAYLOR — A local varsity hockey coach is one of two suspects facing felony charges for allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy. Grosse Pointe South High School’s longtime boys hockey coach, Robert Bopp, 51, of Taylor and James Ryan McBee, 19, of Highland allegedly assaulted the teen on multiple occasions in the 9000 block of Oak Street in Taylor in 2007 and 2008, according to a press release from Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy. Bopp and McBee each face three charges of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, which carries a possible sentence of up to life in prison. They also face other felony charges — including multiple charges of child sexually abusive activity, distributing sexually explicit matter to children and a misdemeanor charge of furnishing alcohol to a minor, according to the release. “Because he has been a coach at Grosse Pointe South High School and involved in metro Detroit hockey for many years, coming in contact with hundreds of high school aged boys, there is legitimate reason for concern,” Worthy stated.“Please call your local police agency immediately if your child has been a victim of Robert Walter Bopp,” she added. The alleged victim is a Farmington Hills resident, and Farmington Hills police were prominently involved in Bopp’s arrest. Farmington Hills officials confirmed early June 19 that Bopp was in the custody of Taylor police. Bopp was arraigned later that day in Taylor’s 23rd District Court. The preliminary exam is June 29, according to Wayne Director of Communications Maria Miller. Grosse Pointe South officials could not be reached for comment by late Friday afternoon. Most prominently, Bopp led the South hockey team to a state championship in 2007 and a state runner-up in 1998. — April Lehmbeck
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