Travel restrictions placed on Grapevine volleyball coach

A Tarrant County volleyball coach facing sex abuse and drug charges must now stay away from his former players or go back to jail a judge ruled on Friday.

Parents said Damian Merrick went to games at Grapevine High School even after the school district ordered him to stay off school property.

Merrick ended up in a Tarrant County district court on Friday after an outcry from families who knew of the charges against Merrick and then saw him showing up at volleyball events. Merrick used to own a community volleyball club and has been charged with giving marijuana to a player and charged with sexually assaulting one of the players in March.

The district attorney on Friday wanted stricter bond conditions and got them.

The new conditions state Merrick cannot “go within 1,000 feet of parks, schools, pools, arcades or any places where children commonly gather.” He’s also required to wear a monitor with a GPS device, not allowed to use drugs or alcohol and must submit to drug testing.

Merrick must report to a Tarrant County corrections supervisor twice a month for follow ups.

The Grapevine-Colleyville ISD released a statement Friday afternoon that said the district is pleased the bond conditions against Merrick have been increased. It also stressed that Merrick is not employed or associated with the district.

The case is expected to eventually go to a Tarrant County grand jury.

Police and the DA are still investigating to see if there are any other victims of sexual assault.