UPDATE: Avoid girls under 16, softball building, judge tells sex suspect

Updated with new information.

GRAND HAVEN, MI -- Thomas Barnes Galloway, an Ottawa County former girls' softball coach, was in court Tuesday morning for arraignment on a charge of first-degree criminal sexual conduct for the alleged assault of a 13-year-old girl who was on the team in 2012.

Galloway, 44, of Spring Lake Township was a founder and until his recent resignation a coach for the Sabercats, an Ottawa County-based traveling girls' softball team.

He's also known in the northwest Ottawa County as a high-end home builder.

The sex crime was alleged to have happened in Spring Lake Township, according to court files.

Galloway was arrested and jailed Monday, March 21, on a charge of first-degree criminal sexual conduct. That's a potential life felony.

A Grand Haven 58th District Court judge signed an arrest warrant for Galloway on that charge Friday, March 18. His interim bond was set at $75,000 cash or surety.

The case was investigated by the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office.

In the same period the alleged sex assault happened, Galloway pleaded guilty June 27, 2012, to felony marijuana manufacture and delivery in Muskegon County.

Galloway, who lived in Norton Shores at the time, had medical-marijuana certification as both a patient and caregiver, allowing him to legally grow limited quantities of marijuana in his basement.

Detectives with the West Michigan Enforcement Team, a multi-agency drug enforcement team, said they found nearly double the number of plants allowed under the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act growing in Galloway's home on April 20, 2012.

In that case, a felony, Galloway was sentenced to a day in jail, a year on probation and 80 hours of community service.

UPDATE 8:45 a.m.:

Galloway has been arraigned and has been led out of the courtroom by a sheriff's deputy.

According to the judge's reading of the charge, the allegation is that Galloway had sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl between June and August 2012.

The district judge set his bond at $75,000 cash or surety and, at the request of the Ottawa County Prosecutor's Office, imposed a condition that he stay away from the Sabercats facility in Allendale, although Galloway's attorney said Galloway leases it himself.

Galloway is also required to stay away from girls younger than 16, other than his own children.

He also is required to refrain from alcohol and controlled substances.

His attorney, David Zessin of Holland, did not answer questions after he left the courtroom.

MLive will update this with a new story, as well as courtroom photos and video, shortly.

John S. Hausman is a reporter for MLive. Email him at jhausman@mlive.com and follow him on Twitter.