Ex-Palo Verde coach faces new child sexual abuse charges, more allegations

A judge set bail at $250,000 for a former Palo Verde High School teacher and coach who was accused of sexually assaulting a child and faces new allegations that he sexually abused other children in a case filed Tuesday.

Michael “Luke” Atwell, 72, was arrested at the school last week on suspicion of sexually abusing a Palo Verde student at Atwell’s house when the victim was between 11 and 14.

A Metropolitan Police Department report alleges that there are additional victims: a woman who is now an adult in her 30s; that woman’s daughter; a former student of Atwell’s, who is also now in her 30s; and that woman’s son.

Justice of the Peace Rebecca Saxe cited the seriousness of the charges and the additional victims before setting Atwell’s bail on Tuesday. If Atwell posts bail, he will be on high-level electronic monitoring and must have no contact with the victims or other minors.

Atwell, who is in custody, was not present. Saxe said he refused to be brought to court.

Defense attorney Jess Marchese said Atwell is presumed innocent and that he plans to rigorously defend his client. Some of the new allegations are questionable, he said.

“The state has real concerns for the safety of this community,” said Chief Deputy District Attorney Peter Thunell, who asked for $1 million bail, an amount that he said would serve as a detention order.

History with CCSD

Atwell previously taught history, criminal justice and social studies and coached boys cross country and girls softball at Palo Verde. State records indicate he also taught at Becker Middle School between 1999 and 2003.

Principal Lisa Schumacher did not name Atwell in a message to Palo Verde families last week but said a volunteer coach was arrested on charges that did not appear to be related to their role at the school.

“The coach has been terminated and will not be allowed on campus,” she said.

The Clark County School District did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

New allegations

In his new case, Atwell faces nine counts of lewdness with a child and two counts of sexual assault against a child under 14. He faces six other counts of sexual assault against a child under 14 and two counts of lewdness with a child in his prior case. Atwell pleaded not guilty in the initial case Monday.

One of the victims said she met Atwell through his son when he was a teacher at Becker Middle School. She alleged to police that he began abusing her when she was 13.

The woman also told Metro that she briefly moved in with Atwell when she was in her 20s, but moved out after her then-5-year-old daughter said Atwell had abused her. The victim’s daughter told police that Atwell molested her and sexually assaulted her when she was 5, the report said.

Another woman claimed she had a sexual relationship with Atwell when he was her teacher and she was a 16- to 19-year-old, according to police.

She said Atwell had recently visited her in Texas, and during the visit, her 4-year-old son said Atwell molested him.

Texas law enforcement is investigating that allegation, according to Metro.

Bail arguments

Prosecutors are concerned that Atwell might flee, Thunell said, given his age and history of taking trips out of the country.

Marchese said Atwell has no criminal history, is not a flight risk and has ties to the community. He’s also diabetic and needs daily medication, according to Marchese.

The attorney asked for $50,000 bail, the bail set in Atwell’s earlier case.

Contact Noble Brigham at nbrigham@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BrighamNoble on X.