SCSO investigating indecent exposure case
Courtesy photo Ferris High School football coach and teacher Jim Sharkey.
The Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) is currently investigating an allegation of indecent exposure that is alleged to have occurred inside Shoshone County involving Ferris High School football coach Jim Sharkey.
The alleged incident occurred in August of last year at a leadership camp near Cataldo.
Multiple students came forward after the camp and reported that while Sharkey was grilling, he turned to them with his exposed penis inside a hot dog bun and said something to the effect of, “You think that is a big dog – take a look at this.”
School records show that many different versions of this quote were provided by witnesses, but all shared the same point.
Initially, one student came forward with a report of the incident a few weeks after the camp, but the school only issued a written reprimand and allowed Sharkey to coach and teach this past fall.
After more students came forward though about the incident and had other reports of questionable behavior from Sharkey, authorities launched an investigation.
Sharkey, an 11-year teacher and coach, was put on administrative leave on Feb. 1, but has vehemently denied the allegations since they first began following the camp.
School records show that Sharkey believes that this is a witch hunt and that his job is his life.
“This is a witch hunt,” Sharkey said in the notes. “This is my life – this is all I do.”
SCSO reported in a press release that this information was only recently reported to them and that due to all of the involved parties/ potential witnesses residing outside of the State of Idaho, this active investigation could take some time.
The Shoshone News-Press reached out to Ferris High School administrators for comment, but passed any questions on to Kevin Morrison, the Spokane Public Schools director of communications and community relations, who declined to speak on the issue
“This is an open personnel issue at this time and it would be inappropriate for anyone in the district to comment,” Morrison stated.
The Shoshone News-Press will continue to follow this ongoing investigation.