Director of Boys & Girls Club in south Las Vegas Valley arrested on lewdness charges

The 44-year-old director of a south valley Boys & Girls Club was arrested this week in connection with three lewdness cases involving young teens at the south valley facility, the Metropolitan Police Department announced Friday.

Willis Brown, who goes by “Coach Willis,” was booked into the Clark County Detention Center, where he faces three counts of lewdness with a child younger than 16, according to jail records. He is being held without bail.

On Thursday, detectives with Metro’s sexual assault unit began investigating a report of lewd conduct involving a man and a young teen at the 10900 Southern Highlands Parkway club, police said. As they investigated, two more possible victims came forward.

Brown was arrested that day. As of Friday afternoon, it was unclear what led police to Brown because his arresting documents had not yet been released to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Brown has worked with Boys & Girls Club of America since 1994, when he began volunteering and later working with the organization in Cleveland, Ohio, according to a brief biography on the local clubhouse’s website. He moved to Las Vegas in 2009, and initially served as an athletic director at a clubhouse in Henderson, at 401 Drake St., near East Warm Springs Road and North Major Avenue.

After developing a “superior sports league” at the Henderson clubhouse, the biography reads, Brown was transferred to the Southern Highlands clubhouse, where he started as athletic director and eventually became clubhouse director.

“I can sum it up why I love the Southern Highlands Clubhouse in one phrase,” a quote from Brown reads in the biography. “Great community, dedicated staff and AMAZING KIDS!”

After Brown’s arrest, Andy Bischel, CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Southern Nevada, released the following statement:

“For 56 years, the safety and protection of the children we serve in Southern Nevada has been our organization’s top priority. We are committed to the highest standards of ethical behavior and integrity, and do not tolerate inappropriate or illegal activity on the part of any Club staff, volunteer, or youth member,” the statement began.

“All employees and volunteers must undergo a thorough criminal background check and all supervisory policies are designed to ensure the maximum safety and protection of Club members and staff,” the statement continued. “Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada is fully cooperating with the authorities on this matter.”

Brown does not have a significant criminal history, per local court records.

Anyone who has information about the case — or anyone who knows of other potential victims — is asked to contact Metro’s sexual assault unit at 702-828-3421.

Contact Rachel Crosby at rcrosby@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5290. Follow @rachelacrosby on Twitter.