WBAL
July 10, 2009
http://www.wbaltv.com/news/20002225/detail.html
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| Charles Friedel (photo from Baltimore County police) |
Victim Is Sister Of One Of Coach's Players
BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. -- Police said Thursday that a soccer coach has been charged with sexual solicitation of a minor and the distribution and possession of obscene matter.
Charles Louis Friedel, 32, was released after posting a $250,000 bond, Baltimore County police said.
Friedel, who is known as Mr. Chuck to his players, was a volunteer coach at the Mt. Carmel Parish School in Essex and for 11-year-olds at the Greater Baltimore Soccer Club.
"This is a person who betrayed the trust of all those parents," said Cpl. Mike Hill of the Baltimore County police.
Detectives said they were contacted Monday by a parent of a 14-year-old girl whose 11-year-old sister plays soccer for Friedel. The parent told police that Friedel sent "inappropriate text messages" to the girl.
An undercover detective assumed the identity of the girl and established a dialogue by texting on the girl's cell phone with Friedel, police said.
During the exchange of messages, police said Friedel "sent sexually explicit pictures of himself and asked for the girl to send pictures of her private areas."
Friedel also "requested and exploited the girl to have sex with him," police said.
A meeting with Friedel was arranged Tuesday at an undisclosed Baltimore County convenience store, and it was there that he was arrested by police.
According to charging documents, Friedel admitted to police about the texting and pictures but said he was only kidding.
Officials searched Friedel's home and confiscated computers and other items. His neighbors in Middle River said they though he was a happily married man.
"I was totally shocked," said neighbor Karen Cehring. "It was really scary. It's the first time I've ever come face-to-face and talked with someone who's been accused of this. It's eye-opening."
The archdiocese, which runs the Mt. Carmel Parish School soccer club, said Freidel had been removed from their program recently but had passed all of their background checks.
"He was compliant with the coaching and sex abuse training that we provide. The background check checked out. So, it's unfortunate, but we're doing everything we can to make sure that nobody was harmed," said Sean Caine of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
The GBSC said they didn't know about the charges.
"Chuck coached during this year's spring league, but as far as we know, he was not scheduled to coach this fall," schedule coordinator Dawn Healy said in a statement.
Police said they believe there may be more victims and are asking parents of children he coached to talk to their kids.
Anyone who has information or has had contact with Friedel through the Internet or cell phone texting should contact police at 410-853-3650.
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