A Las Vegas softball coach is facing a litany of disturbing charges after allegedly carrying out a months-long sexual relationship with one of his players that involved both graphic sexting and physical intercourse.
As reported by the Associated Press, Las Vegas Sun, Fox 5 Las Vegas and other sources, Las Vegas (Nev.) Silverado High softball coach Albert Hernandez faces six felony counts, including sex between a school employee and student and both production and distribution of child pornography.
"They were in a sexual relationship since the end of January. Yes, it was consensual, but that doesn't make it right," Clark County School District Sgt. Darnell Couthen told Fox 5.
Hernandez is a 43-year-old and his victim is currently 17. While the legal age of consent in Nevada is 16, the fact that Hernandez was a school employee and his victim was a student made their relationship explicitly illegal.
Many of the hundreds of photographs between the coach and player were documented in police reports, to relatively disturbing results, as accessed by Fox 5.
Hernandez said in one, "I need pictures... I'm horny."
The teen told police Hernandez requested specific photographs "with underwear and without," and one text from Hernandez requested, "Just lift your blouse and bra and take a picture of your breasts."
Other photos obtained allegedly reveal the two engaged in oral sex.
Hernandez's illicit relationship was brought to light when the father of the victim reported what he feared was an inappropriate connection between his daughter and her coach. Police were able to obtain the text messages detailing extensive sexting and then arrested Hernandez on Thursday.
The coach, who was first hired at Silverado in 2009, was fired from his position with the Clark County School District as soon as he was arrested.
"[Coaches] are placed in a position of authority," Couthen told Fox 5. "They are placed in a position of trust, and I hope that the people that we employ in that position are just that."
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