Former YMCA employee arrested on rape charges

Joshua Wayne Bradford, 33, of Meridianville, who police say raped a woman at the Hogan Family YMCA in Madison in April. (Contributed/Madison Police Department)

By Nick Sellers | Staff Writer

MADISON – A Meridianville man turned himself in to the Madison Police Department the evening of Monday, Aug. 10, on charges of rape in the first degree.

Joshua Wayne Bradford, 33, allegedly engaged in “non-consensual sex” with a female in April at the Hogan Family YMCA in Madison, one of three branches of the Heart of the Valley YMCA network.

Heart of the Valley YMCA Communications Director Mary Anne Swanstrom confirmed that Bradford was a part-time employee of the branch and was immediately suspended upon notification of the alleged rape.

“The Heart of the Valley YMCA was notified on May 5, 2015, of an alleged assault at the Hogan Family YMCA,” Heart of the Valley CEO Jerry Courtney said in an official statement. “The YMCA has been cooperating fully with law enforcement and authorities to determine the facts surrounding the alleged incident.”

Online court records show Bradford was booked just after 8 p.m. Aug. 10 in the Madison County Jail with a $30,000 bond.

“Every employee of the YMCA undergoes a criminal background check and is required to supply three references prior to employment,” Courtney’s statement read. “This process was followed with Mr. Bradford, and there was no indication that there should be any concern over his hiring. The safety of our members, guests and staff is our top priority at Heart of the Valley YMCA.”

Law enforcement is not releasing further details at this time.