Ex-Grosse Pointe Coach Sentenced In Teen Sex Assault

DETROIT (WWJ) - A former Grosse Pointe South High School hockey coach has been sentenced to a maximum of 30 years in prison for paying a drug addicted teenager for sex.

Before Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Linda Parker, Thursday, an attorney for Robert Bopp said his client was an upstanding citizen who once held a leadership role in a powerful union, and an outstanding hockey coach.

But, Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Laura Winegarten disagreed.

"I don't think he, somewhere along the line, slipped. I think he has been doing this kind of conduct for years and years and years and never got caught until now," Windegarten told the court.

"He's a predator, certainly in our case -- with our teenage victim -- he took advantage of a boy who was a heroin addict," she said.

The 54-year-old Bopp recently pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sexual conduct in this case. The Taylor man was fired in 2009 as hockey coach at Grosse Pointe South High School, two years after leading the Blue Devils to the state championship game.

"We hear the accomplishments that Mr. Bopp as done -- it's such a contrast to, certainly, the behavior. It makes this whole situation all the more chilling. Because, to know that there can be this level of normalcy, compared to this level of depraved behavior is really chilling," Judge Parker said.

At Thursday's sentencing, Bopp apologized to both the victim and his family.

"I want to say that I deeply regret my actions -- that I've taken responsibilty right from the start of this. Now I've going to pay my debt to society, and I look forward to comeing home to be a productive citizen once again," Bopp said.

This was the last court hearing for Bopp, who will return to federal prison where he is serving time for child pornography, a separate crime tied to the same investigation.

Bobb's 30-year sentence will run cocurrently with his 22-year sentence, convicted on charges he videotaped teens having sex.