A 35‑year‑old coach from Grosse Pointe South was taken into custody this week after police say he assaulted a woman on his boat in St. Clair Shores. According to investigators, the two had met at a local bar on June 13, exchanged a few drinks, and later moved the encounter to the docked vessel, where the alleged attack occurred.
Legal Proceedings Underway
Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido confirmed that the coach, Ben Warda, now faces a single felony count of third‑degree criminal sexual conduct by force or coercion. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, underscoring the seriousness with which the jurisdiction is treating the case.
Grosse Pointe Public Schools Superintendent Roy Bishop Jr. announced that Warda has been removed from his position as varsity hockey coach, stating that the district is fully cooperating with law enforcement as the investigation proceeds.
Warda also owns Detroit Premier Hockey, a training program based in Grosse Pointe Woods. The case has drawn comparisons to a previous scandal involving former coach Robert Bopp, who in 2011 received a 22‑year federal prison term for producing child sexual abuse material.
The coach is scheduled to appear in court again on July 14, where further details about the alleged assault and any potential plea negotiations may be revealed.