Youth Soccer Coach Accused Of Sex Solicitation

MESQUITE, Texas -- A Mesquite youth soccer coach and professional paralegal was arrested Wednesday for allegedly trying to arrange for a sexual rendezvous with a teenage girl.

Mesquite police charged Derrick Claussen, 29, with criminal solicitation of a child, a third degree felony. The offense is punishable by two to 10 years in prison.Claussen was arrested Wednesday after he used an online chat room to arrange a meeting with what he thought was a 14-year-old girl. The meeting, according to police, was to have involved a sexual encounter.Police said the suspect had engaged in several online chat sessions. Claussen's chat partner, however, was an undercover police office who posed as a teenage girl.

"It was a chat room designed for teens," said Lt. Steven Callarman of the Mesquite Police Department. "He started making arrangements and talking, wanting to meet this female. Eventually, (he) started saying things that he obviously wanted sexual conduct."Police said the suspect works as a paralegal at a Plano law firm as well as serving as a youth soccer coach.Investigators confiscated Claussen's computer from the law firm after securing a search warrant.Police have contacted the Mesquite Soccer Association to alert sports officials about Claussen's arrest. Investigators said they want to know if other people have been victimized or targeted by the suspect.Claussen posted $4,000 bond Friday to secure his release from jail.
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