THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Tuesday, December 5, 1995              TAG: 9512050300
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                     LENGTH: Short :   35 lines

SUSPECT IN MOLESTATION CASE HAS COACHED YOUTH LEAGUE

A Norfolk man arrested and charged Saturday with sexually molesting a young boy in Norfolk coached a youth-league basketball team in Virginia Beach early this year, a Recreation Department spokesman said Monday.

Jay Smith, recreation program coordinator for athletics, said Arthur Tice Jr., 33, was a volunteer assistant coach for the team of boys ranging from 10 to 12 years of age last January and February. The team operates under the Central Bayside Athletic Association.

``As far as I know, (he worked) just that one year as an assistant,'' Smith said. He had no comment about the arrest.

Norfolk police said Tice, of the 9500 block of 19th Bay St. in Norfolk, is accused of sexually molesting a Norfolk boy between early 1994 and October of this year. The boy, who was then 11, is now 12.

Tice was charged with sodomy, aggravated sexual battery, indecent exposure and taking indecent liberties with a child. He was released after posting a $10,000 bond. All the reported incidents are believed to have occurred in Tice's home, according to Norfolk police.

Police did not say whether the boy was a member of the basketball team. The Recreation Department runs a criminal-history check before hiring any paid employees or volunteers, Smith said. Tice's showed no criminal history. ILLUSTRATION: Arthur Tice Jr.

by CNB