Former Madison Swim Coach Indicted on Three Felony Charges

A grand jury indicted former Madison High School swim coach Noah Rucker this week on three felony counts of indecent liberties with a child while in a custodial or supervisory relationship, which will move the allegations forward to a trial, according to the online publication Swim Swam.

Rucker, 39, of Bristow, has been accused of taking indecent liberties with a 17-year-old girl on the varsity swim team he coached more than a decade ago.

Monday's grand jury finding indicates there is enough evidence to move forward with a trial; it does not make a declaration about a suspect's guilt.

A trial date has not been set.

Rucker, represented by Thomas B. Walsh of Petrovich & Walsh PLC, is accused of having inappropriate contact with the victim on at least three separate occasions, according to arrest warrants: Oct. 3, 2001; between Nov. 1 and 30, 2001; and Dec. 1 and 30, 2001.

At the time of the incident, Rucker was 29; the victim was 17, police said.

Walsh requested the felony charged for alleged sexual acts around Oct. 3, 2001, be dropped because those acts would have occurred before the start of the 2001 swimming season when Rucker was not in an official supervisory capacity over the victim. Clayton denied the request, saying the relationship grew out of Rucker's role as coach.

Rucker began coaching at Madison in the fall of 2000, according to Fairfax County Public Schools. He left the system in April 2002, though testimony given last month suggested he may have stopped coaching in December 2001.

Rucker remains released on a $5,000 bond with orders not to contact the victim in the case. He has been ordered to stay in the Washington, D.C., area and has surrendered his passport.

The former coach, who most recently coached with the prestigious Curl-Burke Swim Club, was suspended by USA Swimming last month.

Rick Curl, a prominent swimming coach and founder of the club, was also banned for life this week by USA Swimming following allegations of an inappropriate sexual relationship with a 13-year-old girl in the 1980s.

The swim club now has a new name and new ownership — the Nation’s Capital Swim Club. There are Nation's Capital Swim Clubs in Burke, Falls Church, Tysons Corner, Manassas, Manassas Park and Warrenton. There are also practice facilities in the Greater Alexandria area.