The head soccer coach at Somerset Academy in Pembroke Pines, Florida was arrested last Friday after he allegedly sent suggestive text messages and nude images of himself to a female student.
Owen Cleveland Gayle, 38, of Davie faces five charges, including use of a computer to solicit a child, promoting the sexual performance of a child, and transmission of harmful material to a minor. He is being held at Broward County’s Main Jail on $125,000 bond. The press did not name a lawyer for him.
According to the police report, Gayle used WhatsApp to communicate with his students at Somerset Academy, a charter school in the 20800 block of Johnson Street. Gayle allegedly used the app to text a girl who volunteered with his soccer team and sent her nude images of himself. He asked the girl to send him nude pictures of herself, police said.
The girl, whose age was not disclosed, reported Gayle’s messages to another coach, who called the police. A detective took over the girl’s account and continued communicating with Gayle. That was when Gayle allegedly responded with nude pictures and requested the student send her own nudes. After he was arrested, Gayle purportedly admitted to all charges.
Police are asking parents to speak to their children in regards to Gayle. In addition to coaching at Somerset Academy, Gayle was a soccer coach at First Touch Academy, Soccer Elite Training, and the City of Weston AYSO Select Program.
Another solicitation case involving an adult and a minor was reported in Miami-Dade last week. Firefighter Kevin Kerlin, 45, was charged with solicitation of a minor and unlawful use of a two-way communication device. Kerlin alleged solicited the minor using the social media app Snapchat.
According to the arrest report, the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force began investigating Kerlin in May 2018 after they discovered the sexual messages he sent to a 14-year-old girl from Jupiter. Kerlin allegedly asked the teen for nude pictures of herself and many of the messages implied that the he wanted to engage in sexual activity with the teen.
Kerlin’s wife reportedly found a nude photo of the teen in his phone in April. That prompted him to tell the 14-year-old that they had to “be good” and that “when the time is right we will know . . . when to have sex without getting caught,” sources say.
Kerlin was on paid administrative leave until he was formally indicted on felony charges last week. He is now suspended without pay. He has worked with the Miami-Dade rescue department since 2000. The department is reportedly conducting its own investigation and pre-disciplinary hearing is scheduled for this week.
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Source: 11.24.18 Pembroke pines teacher accused of sending sexual texts to minor.pdf