Wichita police reports show that Max Wheeler, who was arrested and booked last weekend for multiple charges of sex crimes against a child, engaged in the alleged acts at the Wichita Country Club sometime within the last month. 

According to KAKE, Wheeler was booked for four counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, two counts of criminal sodomy with a child and two counts of electronic solicitation. All of the charges are for acts with a child between the ages of 14 and 16.

A Wichita Police report shows that the alleged crimes occurred between June 1 and the Fourth of July at the Wichita Country Club where Wheeler was coaching tennis. Records also show that police spoke to several employees at the club regarding the alleged incidents.

Since Wheeler’s arrest, Wichita State Athletics has pulled Wheeler’s bio and stories mentioning Wheeler from its website.

Lainie Mazzullo-Hart, the university’s director of communication, said Wheeler has not been associated with the university since April.

“The university is aware that former assistant tennis coach Max Wheeler was recently arrested for criminal misconduct,” Mazzullo-Hart wrote in an email. “We do not comment on the employment of volunteers or employees. We can confirm, however, that we ensure all individuals performing coaching duties successfully pass a background check..”

Wheeler’s arrest marks the second Wichita State employee this year to be accused of sexual crimes against a child. 

In June, Christopher Garnier was charged with six counts of breach of privacy and sexual exploitation of a child under the age of 18. The former Barton School of Business director of executive education was caught using a hidden camera to secretly record a child under 18 dressing and undressing.

Wheeler was added to the WSU women’s tennis coaching staff in September 2023. Mazzullo-Hart described Wheeler’s role as a “temporary” and “limited” part-time position.

An inmate search conducted on the morning of Saturday, July 13 shows that Wheeler is no longer in police custody.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include the location and the time frame in which the alleged crimes occurred.