Franklin soccer coach appears in court; judge orders courtroom emptied

A judge removed nearly everyone from the courtroom partially through the first public court appearance of Camilo Hurtado Campos, the Franklin soccer coach accused of drugging and raping at least 10 young boys.

Williamson County General Sessions Judge Denise Andre ordered that only parents of victims could remain in the courtroom at the start of Campos' preliminary hearing.

Andre ruled the case against Campos will go before a grand jury, according to Williamson County deputy court clerk Ellen Edwards, who exited the courtroom at about 12:45 p.m. Prosecutors had not yet left the courtroom, and the defense, which exited before Edwards, declined to comment.

Onlookers were allowed in the courtroom while the judge heard a motion before moving to the preliminary hearing.

Campos entered the courtroom at 11:04 a.m. wearing an orange jumpsuit. His interpreter spoke to him though a small microphone connected to a set of headphones his interpreter provided.

Media and other onlookers were asked to leave the courtroom at 11:39 a.m.

Campos, 63, is charged with sexual exploitation of a minor and two counts of rape of a child.

Andre said she chose to clear the courtroom for the preliminary hearing out of concern that victims could be identified. Attorneys said they planned to use initials and dates of birth to identify different victims, and other identifying information such as the name of the school they attend could also be mentioned.

The preliminary hearing is a bit like a mini trial. The state is tasked with convincing the judge there is probable cause to proceed with their case against the defendant, and will introduce evidence and call witnesses to do so. As such, the preliminary hearing is where the media and the public gains most new information about a case before it goes to trial.

Under Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 30, recording or photographing of a court proceeding involving a minor witness, victim or defendant not being tried as an adult is prohibited. However, section F4 of the rule makes clear that it doesn't cover reporting with a pen and notepad: "This rule does not govern the coverage of a proceeding by a news reporter or other person who is not using a camera or electronic equipment."

Andre first heard the defense’s motion to dismiss the warrant for the sexual exploitation charges based on state law requiring the district attorney’s office to apply for an arrest warrant “unless otherwise provided.”

Franklin Police Detective Andrea Clark testified that she sought the arrest warrant with the oral permission of the district attorney. Andre denied the motion.

Franklin police say Campos' phone contained hundreds of "disturbing" photos and videos of sexual abuse of boys between the ages of 9 and 17. In its last update to the public, Franklin police on July 10 said they had identified three of 10 victims they were seeking and that five others they weren't aware of had come forward.

The Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has offered to assist those who believe they may be potential victims but are hesitant to reach out to law enforcement directly.

Evan Mealins is the justice reporter for The Tennessean. Contact him at emealins@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @EvanMealins.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Judge empties Franklin, TN courtroom in soccer coach child rape case