The school is sending a letter to all past soccer players from girls' teams dating back at least 12 years, according to a diocesan official.
SPRINGFIELD - A former Holyoke Catholic High School girls' soccer coach agreed to be held behind bars pending potential charges being leveled against him for allegedly soliciting underage girls to pose nude via a webcam.
Michael W. Dupont
Michael W. Dupont, 37, of Chicopee, was arrested on march 21 by U.S. Homeland Security Agents amid an investigation into his alleged interaction with a 14-year Vermont girl he met in "Teenchat" on the Internet. According to a criminal complaint in support of an arrest warrant, a federal agent said Dupont told investigators he was "a lonely guy" and admitted receiving sexually explicit photos from at least five young girls over the Internet.
Dupont has not yet been formally charged and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kenneth P. Neiman on Wednesday. He declined through his lawyer to make an argument for bail. He was arrested on suspicion of sexual exploitation of a child.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Steven H. Breslow said Dupont may be charged either in U.S. District Court in Springfield, or in federal court in Vermont. He also indicated to Neiman that prosecutors may seek an extension of the standard 30 days they have to bring charges.
"At this point, we don't exactly know," how the case will proceed, Breslow said.
Dupont was subdued in court, dressed in the same sweatpants and soccer sweatshirt he wore on the day of his arrest. A spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield has said Dupont's contract had expired along with the season in November, so he was not actively coaching at the time of his arrest.
In a prepared statement, the diocese's spokesman said church officials will meet with parents of the school's soccer players. He said the bishop has pledged full cooperation with investigating authorities. The complaint did not reference students, however.
The school is sending a letter to all past soccer players from girls' teams dating back at least 12 years, according to a diocesan official.
Law enforcement officials in Vermont were alerted when the mother of girl (named only Minor A in the complaint) discovered inappropriate emails on her 14-year-old daughter's computer in late December.