Ex-Coach of Broward County Catholic School Hockey Club Charged with Child Porn

A former volunteer hockey coach with St. Thomas Aquinas High School’s hockey club was arrested Wednesday, accused of possessing child pornography, after detectives found dozens of images of boys who appeared to be between 10 and 14 years old in “lewd poses or engaged in sexual acts,” the Broward Sheriff’s Office said.

The 32-year-old was being held Thursday in Broward’s main jail on a $150,000 bond. He has been charged with 19 counts of possessing images that depict child sex conduct and one charge of entering child pornography on a computer.

The Broward Sheriff’s Office said they also found “numerous files of what appears to be surreptitiously recorded images from inside a locker room which shows a group of high school age males in various stages of undress.”

“Uniforms from a Specific Broward County private Catholic high school can be seen in the footage,” according to an arrest report.

The man stopped working with the club in early 2018, BSO said. The man was not an employee or volunteer of the school and the team is not associated with the school’s athletic department.

According to the report, an investigation began in January after an internet service provider alerted detectives with the Broward Sheriff’s Office’s Internet Crimes Against Children task force that the man was uploading images of child pornography.

Detectives were allegedly able to find about 50 inappropriate images of young boys. There were also several pictures of young children that were considered “child erotica.”

On Wednesday, detectives arrived with a search warrant at the man’s home. During the search, detectives allegedly found several hard drives that had “numerous images of child pornography,” including short videos of children “engaging in sexual acts.”

They also found the locker room photos, which “appear to have been secretly recorded.”

In Florida, it is illegal to make, sell, or distribute sexual images and other media of children under the age of 18. The state is harsh in doling out punishments for those convicted of child pornography crimes, and those convicted could be looking at decades in prison and costly fines. If you are being charged with a sex crime like child pornography, our South Florida Child Porn Defense Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can help.

We have the legal skills necessary to represent your case, whether you are facing a state or federal sex crime charge(s). We can establish a strong defense on your behalf and ensure your rights are respected.

Sexual offenses, especially those committed against minors, are punished quite harshly in the state of Florida. Due to the fact that you are facing serious consequences, it is crucial that you seek the help of our experienced sex crimes defense lawyers who can defend your rights. To request a free consultation with us, call us today at 866-608-5529 or contact us online. We are available 24/7 for your convenience.