ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A 69-year-old St. Johns County man was arrested on nine counts of possession of child pornography Friday, according to the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.
Thomas Edwin Hayes, of Whisper Ridge Drive, was booked into the County Jail where he remains on a $45,000 bond pending a first appearance hearing Saturday morning.
Special victims' detectives began an investigation regarding possible child pornography and contacted Hayes at his residence. During that contact, Hayes said he had eight compact discs with child pornography on them. The discs were seized and a search warrant was obtained to view the evidence, deputies said.
Investigators confirmed at least nine images of alleged child pornography.
"Some of our investigative techniques we don't disclose to public, but we garnered information and went to his home, where we had a conversation that produced discs containing child pornography," Cmdr. ChuckMulligan said.
An arrest warrant for Hayes was obtained Friday and U.S. Marshals took him into custody without incident.
A spokesperson for the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office said Hayes passed background checks for five years straight while coaching softball in St. Johns County.
County officials told News4Jax that Hayes was a coach, while members of the St. Johns Middle School Athletic Association said he was just a volunteer. The St. Johns MSAA is a private organization that contracts with the county for use of its facilities.
Some parents said the fact that he was working with kids has shocked them.
"I know everybody's background checked, but at the same time there's somebody that can turn faces and be somebody you weren't expecting, too," said Karen Church.
"It concerns me a lot. I do know it's more common than not lately, but I do what I can to protect him and I don't know what I would do if my child were ever involved in a situation like that," Meghan Oloughlin said.
Parents said they will use this as another reminder to keep a close eye on who their kids spend time with.
"I know it's hard and I know they do background checks and sometimes that's not enough but I keep close eye on him about who he's around," one parent said.
Nizam Emandi, the president of the St. Johns MSAA, said Hayes was a volunteer to the Pacetti Bay softball team, but had no supervisory role in the team.
The association is not affiliated with the school district and is a private organization that uses county facilities, according to Emandi.
Emandi said Hayes also gave private softball pitching lessons in the Mill Creek and WGV-area associations. Hayes also volunteered at Mill Creek baseball and softball association.
The St. Johns MSAA is expected to suspend Hayes. If he's convicted on the child porn charges, he would be banned for life.
The Sheriff's Office said it is continuing its investigation into Hayes.