A college swim coach from Maryland faces criminal charges after he allegedly confessed to online contact with kids, including one from Knox County, Illinois.
Police said they found digitally-stored child pornography images when they searched the home of 45-year-old Andre Barbins, head swimming coach at St. Mary’s College of Maryland on Friday, February 12, 2016. The search, and Barbins’ arrest, followed an investigation that began in October 2015 according to a statement from the Knox County Sheriff’s Department; Barbins was accused of “indecent communications” with the underage victim via social media.
“Barbins confessed to authorities of having contacted the Knox County, Illinois juvenile victim as well as several other juveniles committing similar offenses,” the statement said.
Barbins was charged with one count of child pornography and one count of displaying obscene matter to a minor, according to Maryland State Police.
Online jail records showed Barbins posted bond and was released from the Calvert County, Maryland Jail the day after he was arrested.
Barbins was still listed as a coach on the college’s website, which stated he was in his 18th year of coaching there. His assistant coach has reportedly assumed the head coach duties according to WBAL.
Court records showed Barbins’ trial was set for March 21 in Calvert County, Maryland.
