By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

KENNER – A LaPlace man who coaches AAU girls’ basketball was arrested by Kenner Police Wednesday for allegedly sexually molesting one of his 13-year-old players at her home.

Joseph Hamilton, 42, of 105 Cottage Grove Drive, was booked into the Jefferson Parish Jail in Gretna on molestation charges Wednesday evening said detective Brian McGregor, a Kenner Police Department spokesman. Hamilton was being held without bond as of Thursday.

According to a release from Kenner Police, the girl told detectives she received a telephone call from Hamilton on March 13 after she arrived home from basketball practice. She said Hamilton told her he had something to tell her and was coming over to speak with her. Once he was alone with her, the girl said he placed his hand beneath her clothing and fondled her. The release said the girl told her mother, who told Kenner police.

The girl also said that Hamilton had bought her a phone so that he could be in constant contact with her, McGregor said. Hamilton told her not to tell her mother about the phone. It is not clear when Hamilton gave the girl the phone.

McGregor said Hamilton coached an Amateur Athletic Union basketball team for the past three years. He said the team trained in LaPlace but was not affiliated with any schools there. Hamilton also spent time coaching for the St. John Parish Recreation Department.

Because of Hamilton’s access to children, Kenner police ask that anyone with knowledge of other victims call the Police Department at 504-712-2222 or CrimeStoppers at 504-822-1111.