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March 04. 2013 9:05AM

Updated: Ex-Londonderry coach accused of sex assault on pre-teen girls

By APRIL GUILMET
Union Leader Correspondent

TIMOTHY LONGUA

LONDONDERRY — A former youth football coach is facing multiple sexual assault charges after allegedly fondling two of his daughter's middle-school-aged classmates during sleepovers at his Londonderry home, police said.

Timothy G. Longua, 41, of 7 Lane Way, turned himself in on a warrant by Londonderry Police shortly before 8 p.m. Friday evening. Longua had been scheduled for arraignment in Derry District Court Monday morning; however, his arraignment was rescheduled after he posted $10,000 cash bail and was released from Rockingham County Jail Saturday.

According to a release from Londonderry police Monday morning, Longua is due in 10th Circuit Court, Derry District Division, March 25 at 8:15 a.m.

Local police were contacted by the officials from the state Department of Children, Youth and Families in early February, according to Londonderry Police Detective Donald A. LaDuke.

LaDuke said one of the young female victims gave a statement to officials at the Child Advocacy Center of Rockingham County on Feb. 12.

The victim said Longua first assaulted her at her friend's house during the summer of 2012 when she was 11 years old. She described Longua as being "really drunk" at the time and alleged Longua crept into the bedroom and touched her breasts, buttocks and private area while she slept. A similar incident occurred later that summer, when the victim alleged that Longua, who she said placed his hands under her shirt and tried to push her hand down his pants, awakened her again.

A third incident occurred at a sleepover in late December, when Longua allegedly fondled the victim one more time, despite her protests. The victim, now 12, told officials she believed Longua had assaulted at least one other preteen girl, also 12.

LaDuke said the second victim said she reported an incident of Longua "rubbing her thighs, lower buttocks when she was wearing shorts" to Longua's wife, Maura, who allegedly told her she'd tell her husband "to stop doing that," according to the court records.

Both victims told authorities Longua was "always drunk" when they were over and they both said they saw Longua drinking multiple Bud Light beers from a downstairs refrigerator. Maura Longua reportedly told police that drinking "is her husband's weakness."

While state child welfare officials interviewed two other classmates who'd slept over the Longua home, no further disclosures of possible sexual assault charges have been made, LaDuke said.

Londonderry Police interviewed Longua on Feb. 20, and he denied all accusations although he admitted his fondness for beer and reportedly told police that "he doesn't want to admit to something he doesn't remember," according to police statements.

A call made to the Longua household wasn't immediately returned. According to Ryan Ouellette, president of the Londonderry Wildcats Football and Youth Spirit League, Longua was an assistant football coach for the Londonderry Wildcats for the 2012 football season. The 2012 football season started in July of 2012 and was completed in November of 2012. Longua was one of a group of seven adults, including a team parent, who were responsible for coaching/managing a group of 35 second- and third-grade football players, all young boys, on the Wildcat U3 football team.

Previous story follows:

LONDONDERRY— A former youth football coach is in custody after being arrested on a warrant for multiple sexual assault charges involving a 13-year-old victim, police said.

Timothy G. Longua, 41, of 7 Lane Way, turned himself in on a Londonderry police warrant shortly before 8 p.m. Friday evening. His arraignment in Derry District Court Monday morning was postponed. Police shared few details of the incident, saying the investigation is ongoing.

Longua faces four charges of aggravated felonious sexual assault/fondling and two charges of felonious sexual assault/forcible fondling.

Bail for Longua was set at $10,000 cash, which Longua posted.

According to Ryan Ouellette, president of the Londonderry Wildcats Football and Youth Spirit League, Longua was an assistant football coach for the Londonderry Wildcats for the 2012 football season. The 2012 football season started in July of 2012 and was completed in November of 2012. Longua was one of a group of seven adults, including a team parent, who were responsible for coaching/managing a group of 35 second- and third-grade football players, all young boys, on the Wildcat U3 football team.

Ouellette issued the following statement on behalf of the Wildcat program: "All coaches, team parents, and board members of the Londonderry Wildcats are required to obtain background checks from the National Center for Safety Initiatives. As of July of 2012, all board members, team parents and coaches, including Mr. Longua, passed our NCSI background screenings. All Wildcat football and cheerleading activities are conducted as group activities with multiple adults in attendance, including coaching staffs and parents who are free to attend all practices and game-day activities. Further, it has always been the policy of the Londonderry Wildcats to have a board member present at all activities, including team practices, events and games."

Ouellette concluded his statement by saying, "As of this time we do not know all the details of the alleged incident, and our thoughts and prayers remain with the Longua family."

pfeely@unionleader.com