A volunteer coach from Belton has recently been arrested under accusations of committing serious crimes. He was arrested for committing Internet sex crimes because the Missouri police officers suspected that the man was in possession of child pornography. However, many details surrounding the case are unclear.
The police have not released the man’s paid profession, but the 47-year-old does volunteer as a baseball coach for the Belton Parks and Recreation Department. The director of the department stated that he performed a background check on the coach before allowing him to volunteer, and presumably, the check came back clear. The coach’s arrest came as the result of an investigation by the Missouri Highway Patrol and the Cyber Crimes Unit in Belton.
Many of the details surrounding the man’s case — including why he was being investigated in the first place as well as the details surrounding his arrest — have not been made publicly available. However, it is clear that the man faces the class B felony charge of possession of child pornography. He was arrested at 10 a.m. and booked into the Belton Police Department. He is being held on a $25,000 bond, and if he eventually posts bond, he will be forbidden while the proceedings are pending from using any electronic devices to access the Internet as well as have any contact with children.
Any time a person is accused of Internet sex crimes in Missouri, the charges carry very serious potential consequences. If convicted, the man would no longer be able to volunteer as a coach and would have to register as a sex offender. Moreover, a prison sentence and/or other penalties are possible. Therefore, he would do well to ensure that all of his legal rights are safeguarded as he makes the choices that he feels to be most beneficial as his criminal process continues.
Source: fox4kc.com, “Belton man charged with possession of child pornography“, Eric Burke, Oct. 1, 2014