Former HHS Coach Arrested for Sex Crimes

A former Holden High School teacher and coach, Joshua Hood, has been charged with sex crimes against a minor, which allegedly occurred while he was at HHS.

Hood, who is currently a coach at the Park Hill School District, was arrested last Wednesday, December 16, and charged with a number of crimes.

According to the Jackson County Prosecutor’s probable cause statement, while Hood was a high school coach at Holden in 2003-04, he allegedly had multiple sexual encounters with a high school student under the age of 17.

As a result, multiple sex crime charges were filed by the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Hood faces five counts of Statutory Sodomy, Attempted Statutory Rape -2nd Degree, Child Molestation and Statutory Rape -2nd Degree.

According to court records filed December 16, in April 2020, the Missouri Highway Patrol opened an investigation into allegations after a victim came forward.

The unidentified female said that she had been the victim of sexual offenses at a variety of locations in Jackson County, MO, in 2003 and 2004.

The victim identified the offender as Joshua D. Hood.

The victim told Missouri Highway Patrol investigators that Hood had engaged in sexual intercourse and other sexual acts when she was less than 17 in the fall of 2003 and the spring of 2004.

The defendant was then a teacher and a coach at Holden High School and about 26 or 27 years old.

The victim was a student at Holden High School and younger than 17.

The victim also alleged that she met Hood “multiple times for sex” at two Lee’s Summit hotels.

She also met Hood at his apartment in Lee’s Summit for sex, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol report.

The relationship allegedly took place from November 1, 2003, to May 13, 2004, according to a court document.

Hood’s attorney, Greg Watt, calls the charges “baseless.”

Prosecutors have requested a $20,000/10 percent bond.

The Image contacted the Holden School District for a comment and received the following statement: “Joshua Hood was employed by the Holden District during the 2003-04 school year.

The Board accepted his resignation on June 14, 2004.”

“The District was surprised to learn of the allegations and will cooperate fully with authorities as they investigate this matter.” - Holden R-III School District Hood was placed on administrative leave by the Park Hill District.

He has served as teacher and head football coach at several districts since leaving Holden in 2004 and starting at Park Hill in 2013.