ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. — A man who worked as a soccer coach in Arapahoe County was arrested Wednesday on child pornography charges, the Sheriff's Office said.
Investigators with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit (ICAC) received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about child pornography being traded from an IP address in Arapahoe County.
ICAC investigators said they found that files containing child pornography were being uploaded, and the files included underage victims ranging in age from toddlers to teens, the Sheriff's Office said.
The suspect was identified as Howard "Bud" Harper, 63. The Sheriff's Office said Harper is employed by the Real Soccer Club as an "age coordinator" and has previously worked as a coach.
Investigators executed a search warrant in unincorporated Arapahoe County on Wednesday. Harper was taken into custody and booked into the Arapahoe County Jail on 17 counts of sexual exploitation of children.
Real Colorado released the following statement after Harper's arrest:
"Real Colorado is working with the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office to support their investigation. Mr. Harper’s arrest was not related to his work with Real Colorado and did not involve any players in our program."
Anyone with information about Harper is asked to call the Sheriff's tip line at 720-874-8477.
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