Burlington, Vermont - March 22, 2005

When Jonathan Cayole filmed his daughter cheering at a first and second grade basketball game in Burlington in February, he never thought he'd catch an accused killer on tape.

"I saw footage of Montgomery on television and I knew that I recognized him from somewhere. So I played this video and sure enough, it was him," says Cayole.

Gerald Montgomery-- now charged with a brutal rape and murder-- coached games and practices at several Burlington schools: H.O. Wheeler, the Champlain School, Hunt Middle School and the Boys & Girls Club. Montgomery was a parent-volunteer for the youth basketball program run by Burlington Parks & Recreation.

"His stepson was a member of this team," says Wayne Gross of Burlington Parks and Recreation Department.

Montgomery is also a convicted sex offender whose sinister past was unknown to organizers.

"We do not have a background check policy at this point," explains Gross.

"That would explain why someone of his background could mingle with kids. It's a scary thought," says Cayole.

Background checks on volunteers who work with children are permitted in Vermont, but widely underused.

Gross says this case stresses the need for more background checks even on volunteers.

"People that work with vulnerable populations like children need to be screened and we'll put a procedure in place to do that."

Gross says Montgomery was supervised by Parks & Recreation staff during the entire twelve weeks he coached youth basketball. And he was never alone with any of the children.

"We had no complaints of his conduct and no inclination of inappropriate behavior during, or prior to our season. We are shocked by this news."

Burlington Parks & Recreation says it is quickly working to develop a policy that would require background checks for all of its volunteers. That means current and future volunteers. The department hopes to have a screening program in place by the fall.

Darren Perron - Channel 3 News