Part-time basketball coach at Florida high school accused of paying for teens’ nude photos

STUART, Fla. — A campus monitor and part-time basketball coach at a South Florida high school is accused of paying female students to send him nude photographs, authorities said.

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Alton Lee Edwards, 27, of Stuart, was arrested Friday and charged with seven counts of online solicitation of a minor, WPEC-TV reported.

Edwards worked as a campus monitor and helped coach basketball at Martin County High School, according to the television station.

Martin County Sheriff William Snyder said that his department received a tip about a week ago that Edwards was allegedly paying for nude photos, WBPF-TV reported.

The sheriff said that Edwards was allegedly receiving the photos through Snapchat. He told reporters that most of the students appeared to be 15 and 16 years old, according to WPTV.

“It looks like his major (modus operandi) would be to find the girls on Snapchat, take a look at their friends and then just start probing,” Snyder said. “Really, it’s grooming. He finds a child who might be more vulnerable and he gets them to send pictures of them unclothed and sends them cash.”

Detectives said they have spoken with seven girls who admitted sending the Edwards nude pictures, adding that the suspect allegedly paid between $10 to $75, WPTV reported.

“Now we’ve uncovered information that it was somewhat generally known by a segment of the school that he would do this -- if you would send him a picture of you undressed that he would pay you for it,” Snyder told reporters.

Edwards was put on paid administrative leave, WPEC reported. He resigned on Friday.

In a message to parents and employees, Martin County High School Principal Alfred Fabrizio said that the school district and sheriff’s office were “made aware of a very serious” allegation.

“Immediately upon receipt of this anonymous tip, the employee in question was removed from campus and all duties that would allow him any contact with students,” Fabrizio said. “Both agencies immediately began their respective investigations.

“Families continue to be encouraged to speak with students about the importance of practicing the ‘see something, say something’ rule and reporting any suspicious activity they notice to a trusted adult.”

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