Maple Grove Volleyball Coach Sentenced To 33 Years in Federal Prison for Sexual Abuse

(KNSI) – A former Maple Grove High School volleyball coach has been sentenced to 33 years in federal prison for sexually exploiting the young athletes he was trusted to mentor and protect.

Dorian Christopher Barrs was sentenced for the production of child pornography, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Nancy E. Brasel, who called the case “every parent’s nightmare.”

For nearly 10 years, Barrs systematically abused his position as a volleyball coach and various club programs at the school. Court documents reveal he targeted players as young as 14 years old, using his authority and trust to sexually exploit at least 19 minor victims.

Barrs operated through a calculated scheme of manipulation. He used social media platforms to groom vulnerable young athletes, often creating fake identities to “catfish” his victims and break down their defenses. The coach would flood victims with hundreds of messages, quickly steering conversations toward sexual topics.

The abuse included both the production and distribution of sexually explicit images and videos, as well as physical sexual abuse with at least five victims. Of the 19 identified victims, 14 were directly under Barrs’ coaching supervision.

The case began to unravel in 2024 when one brave victim told her parents about the abuse and contacted law enforcement. Her courage prompted other victims to come forward, allowing investigators to piece together the full scope of Barrs’ crimes.

“To the survivors, your courage in coming forward is the reason this predator was held accountable,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “And your strength protected other girls from ever experiencing Barrs’s abuse.”

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