safety
Accused ex-Southfield teacher barred from contact with kids listed with youth-facing choir
By Erika Erickson, Joel Deaner at WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News
· July 13, 2026
· 9 min read
Concerns about Lamar Willis, 44, a former music teacher charged with multiple sex crimes against children in the Southfield Public School System and later the Detroit Public School System, were brought to Local 4’s attention.Community members alleged that he is now involved with choirs again, inc...
Key takeaway Patterson Chorale, which Local 4 is told works closely with children.
Why this matters in The Detroit
The involvement of Lamar Willis with a youth-facing choir raises concerns about the vulnerability of Detroit's children to potential predators. As a community, Detroit has a responsibility to ensure that its young people are protected from individuals with a history of alleged misconduct. The fact that Willis is listed as an accompanist and assistant director with The Willis Patterson Our Own Thing Chorale, which offers music lessons to children as young as 5, is particularly troubling. The Oakland County Prosecutor's Office is right to take action to enforce bond conditions and prevent any potential harm to children. Detroit residents should be vigilant about the organizations and individuals that interact with their children, and demand that those in positions of authority take concrete steps to prevent abuse. The upcoming pretrial conference and trial date will be crucial in determining the outcome of this case, and the community will be watching closely to ensure that justice is served.
About this story
Original reporting by WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News . The Detroit surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: July 13, 2026 ·
Source: WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News ·
Reading time: 9 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Concerns about Lamar Willis, 44, a former music teacher charged with multiple sex crimes against children in the Southfield Public School System and later the Detroit Public School System, were brought to Local 4’s attention.Community members alleged that he is now involved with choirs again, inc...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 13, 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News and curated for The Detroit readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Erika Erickson, Joel Deaner at WDIV ClickOnDetroit (NBC) - Local News. To learn more about how The Detroit selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Detroit, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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