Richard A. Case was arrested in June by undercover police officers, who posed online as a 15-year-old girl, 10TV's Glenn McEntyre reported.
Case, 34, was arrested after members of the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force investigated a complaint of a man soliciting people online for sex, Westerville police said.
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Police said Case agreed to meet a girl for the purpose of taking her to a park for sex, 10TV News reported.
Case admitted to knowing that he was meeting a girl who was a juvenile. Case also admitted to having child pornography on his computer at home, police said.
A search of Case's Westerville home turned up several computers and hard drives containing suspected child pornography.
He was originally charged with one count of importuning and one count of attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. The charges were dropped in exchange for his guilty plea in the child pornography charge, McEntyre reported.
The sister of Case's estranged wife, who asked not to be identified, spoke after the hearing, on behalf of her family.
"I'm disgusted," she said. I feel sorry for his family, my family, and all the children who have been violated by him and everyone else involved."
At the time of Case's arrest, his wife was eight months pregnant, McEntyre reported.
"I think it would be devastating to anyone. She fell in love with someone that had been lying to her about who he was," Case's sister-in-law said. "I don't want him to see my niece. He gave up that right as soon as he looked at the pictures of the children."
Case was dismissed as the girls lacrosse coach at Westerville North High School in May. He also taught classes at Columbus State Community College as an adjunct professor.
Case passed a criminal background check when he was hired by the team, 10TV News reported.
Because the lacrosse team is a club sport at the high school, the school district is not involved in paying the coaching staff or managing the program. A team spokesman said in June that Case was dismissed because of his coaching philosophy.
A sentencing date was not immediately set. Case faces up to 20 years in prison.
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Previous Stories:
June 10, 2010:
Lacrosse Coach Accused Of Solicitation Was College Instructor
June 9, 2010:
Westerville Girls Lacrosse Coach Accused Of Soliciting Girl For Sex
