Rec Center Worker Charged with Rape

CLEVELAND — A former recreation center employee is behind bars tonight, accused of sexually assaulting a teenage co-worker.

Robert Beavers, 26, of Wickliffe, is charged with one count of rape.  The part-time employee is accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl on Sept. 19 at the Stella Walsh Recreation Center on Broadway Avenue in Cleveland.

“That doesn’t sound good, coming on to a 15-year-old and he’s a grown man and I’ve been coming to this rec center for a while and I’ve been … and it doesn’t sound good,” said rec center user Kenyatta McKay.

Investigators have not released many details, but according to court records, Beavers was arrested on Monday and charged on Wednesday.  Two teens who use the rec center regularly say they can’t believe the charges.

“I thought he was a nice guy, he used to teach me how to play basketball.  I never thought he was gonna do something like that, but you never know how these people is like these days.  I don’t know, it’s just shocking,” said one of the teens.

“It’s crazy, he don’t even look like he’ll do something like that though,” said another teen.

City officials classified Beavers as a part-time “recreation instructor” who was hired in November 2010.

“A man has no right to put his hands on a woman and a man has no right to put his hands on a child … period, period.  That’s just the way life is,” said rec center user Andrea Beard.

Beavers resigned from his position on Monday.  As of Thursday night, he remained in the Cuyahoga County jail.  His bond was set at $50,000.