Caldwell coach-teacher lost his job over sex-abuse case. It has been dismissed
After new information came to light, a Canyon County judge dismissed a child sexual abuse charge against a local high school coach earlier this year.
Kip Crofts, of Middleton, was charged last July with felony child sexual abuse of a minor. An indictment alleged that Crofts, 60, caused or permitted a 14-year-old girl to watch him masturbate in a classroom in 2024.
He was arrested on a $50,000 felony warrant after being indicted by a grand jury in June, according to court records.
Caldwell hired Crofts to lead its football program in February 2023. He also worked there as a physical education teacher.
Canyon County Prosecuting Attorney Alana Minton told a judge in a Feb. 24 hearing that during preparation for the case’s trial, “a new piece of information came to light that we had previously been unaware of.”
The new information, according to Third District Judge Gene Petty, was that the door to Crofts’ classroom was locked at the time of the alleged incident. That meant it would be difficult to prove it was Croft’s intent for a child to see him.
The judge agreed to dismiss the case and remove an order that prevented him from contacting minors.
“I do (find that) the dismissal in this case is appropriate,” Petty said. “It would serve the ends of justice.”
Minton said she had hoped to amend the charges to misdemeanor indecent exposure, but Idaho criminal rules wouldn’t allow it. Canyon County spokesperson Joe Decker explained that, under Idaho code, the amended charge would have to fall under the category of “lesser included offense,” and that would not work in this case. He also noted that the statute of limitations for indecent exposure is one year in Idaho.
A lesser included offense is a crime that is necessarily committed during the perpetration of a greater crime, such as a trespassing while committing burglary, according to the Legal Information Institute.
Civil case filed, future unclear
Shortly before the dismissal of the criminal case, the parents of the student involved filed a civil case against Crofts and the Caldwell School District.
The plaintiffs said they are seeking monetary compensation for the “severe emotional distress” they allege the student suffered, resulting in her needing therapy.
In the complaint filed on Feb. 18, the plaintiffs alleged that the student “entered Crofts’ classroom and observed Crofts watching pornography and masturbating,” which contradicts the state’s findings in the criminal case.
The complaint also alleged that Caldwell School District Superintendent N. Shalene French advised the student not to contact law enforcement and chose to conduct an internal investigation instead. The district denied that allegation in a response.
Court records filed on April 16 show that the civil case’s judge was removed at the request of the school district and indicated that a new judge would be assigned.
The plaintiff’s attorneys did not respond to questions about how the dismissal of criminal charges could impact the civil case.
Coach lost job during investigation
Crofts stopped working for the district during the investigation, according to spokesperson Jessica Watts, who declined to provide details on the end of his employment but said the district’s “primary concern will always be the safety and well-being of our students.”
Crofts previously served as the head football coach at high schools in Payette and Meridian, where he led his team to a state championship, the Statesman previously reported. He also worked as an assistant coach at Bishop Kelly for three years.
