GREEN BAY (WLUK) – Former tennis coach Joshua Denault, 40, was convicted on Tuesday of taking inappropriate “upskirt” videos of minors.
Denault pleaded no contest to four counts of child sexual exploitation-filming and two counts of child enticement. As part of the plea deal, 12 additional charges, including five counts of capturing an intimate representation, were dismissed.
Sentencing is set for May 20, with four of the charges carrying a mandatory minimum prison term of five years. Denault’s bond was revoked, and he was taken into custody by Judge Thomas Walsh.
Denault had worked as a tennis coach at both Western Racquet & Fitness Club in Ashwaubenon and Four Seasons Tennis Club in Allouez, which are owned by the same company.
The investigation began in May when a 10-year-old girl reported that Denault asked her to get into a wide stance during a lesson and then placed his phone under her to record a video. Sheriff’s officials later searched Denault’s phone and discovered videos of the victim and other young girls.
Denault claimed the videos were for training purposes, but prosecutors said the footage primarily focused on the girls’ intimate body areas, despite them being clothed. The videos showed little more than the girls’ lower bodies, with minimal footage of their arms or tennis racquets.
Police also found 36 “recently deleted” videos on Denault’s phone, which led to more victims and additional charges. One victim described her reaction to the discovery, saying, “Seeing this video, it makes me feel gross, pissed off, and it is very disturbing. Coach Denault always gave me the creeps, so I tried to stay away from him.”
