More child sex charges filed against ex-Las Vegas high school volunteer coach

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — New charges related to sexual misconduct with minors have been filed against a former Las Vegas high school volunteer coach.

Las Vegas Justice Court records show a new case was filed Thursday to prosecute 73-year-old Michael "Luke" Atwell.

According to the latest Grand Jury indictment, Atwell is facing 40 charges, including lewdness with a child under 14, sexual assault of a child under 14, and battery with intent to commit sexual assault victim under 16.

According to an arrest report obtained by News 3, two children told detectives that Atwell touched them inappropriately and had them perform sex acts on multiple occasions at his home. Atwell was confronted about the new allegations on March 30 at his house by family members, where he was secretly recorded confessing to the lewd acts, according to the document. That recording was shared with investigators.

A text message sent by Atwell to a family group thread said "they had no reason to love or care for 'this sinner,' according to the document. The report stated, "he wrote he lied for a very long time and sinned in the worst way." He informed the family he would "find a place to start working on himself, but that sickness was behind him." The document said he was 'glad this has finally come out.' and that he'd been praying about it for years, and knew it should've come out "a long time ago."

A screenshot of Atwell sent the group chat of an online search for therapists was also shared with a detective, along with a text message sent to another text strand on March 31 saying he had not been able to sleep and was asking for forgiveness.

The abuse lasted several years, with the minors who are family members in the latest case, according to the arrest report.

The document stated that Atwell confessed during the confrontation on March 30 that he molested "five different victims."

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"It has been less than 24 hours since Michael was arrested on the new allegations," Atwell's attorney Jess Marchese said in an email to News 3. "We are still gathering information in order to understand how we are proceeding."

Atwell's attorney, Jess Marchese, told News 3 his client was on house arrest after posting bail in the initial case. Atwell was already awaiting trial for 28 counts related to child sex crimes or abuse. Two teenagers testified to a grand jury, alleging they were involved in inappropriate incidents when they were younger.

The trial is scheduled to begin on May 5. Atwell has pleaded not guilty.

A judge on Friday ordered Atwell to remain detained pending a formal bail hearing, per court records. He is next due to appear in court for the new case on April 8.

The Clark County School District previously said Atwell was a volunteer coach at Palo Verde High School. The charges were not related to his role on campus, according to CCSD, but he was terminated and would not be allowed back.