Polk sheriff arrests Massachusetts hockey coach, Tony DeSilva, over soliciting a minor
Polk County Sheriff’s Computer Crimes Unit undercover detectives arrested 41-year-old Anthony “Tony” DeSilva of Massachusetts, charging the man with 10 counts Use of Computer To Seduce A Child (F-3) and 1 count Transmission of Material Harmful To A Child (F-3).
Tony DeSilva
According to the affidavit, the investigation began earlier this year when the mother of a 16-year-old Polk County boy contacted PCSO in reference to a Massachusetts man named Tony she believed was soliciting her son online, through Facebook. Detectives asked for, and received, permission from the woman to pose as her son online to continue conversing with the suspect online.
DeSilva, age 41, sent naked images of himself to the “boy” and (in graphic details) described what he would like to do sexually to the “boy.”
DeSilva also told the “boy” that he is a hockey coach for a junior hockey club team, the Massachusetts Maple Leafs, with players 20 years of age and younger (the youngest player listed on the junior hockey club website is 16 years old).
He also made references to coaching baseball.
The man also solicited another Polk County teenaged boy, whom the PCSO undercover detective also asked for, and received, permission to pose as online. The detective had conversations with DeSilva posing as two different 16-year-old Polk County boys, during which DeSilva solicited both young men online to perform sex acts and to send him nude photos of themselves.
unty boys, during which DeSilva solicited both young men online to perform sex acts and to send him nude photos of themselves.
On Wednesday, November 14, 2012, PCSO detectives, assisted by detectives from the New Bedford (MA) Police Department and the Dartmouth State Police took DeSilva into custody at his home.
He was booked into the Ash Street Jail in Dartmouth. PCSO also served a search warrant at the home, and further charges are pending the outcome of the search warrant.
During a post-Miranda interview, DeSilva told detectives that he knew the two boys he was chatting with online and via text were 16-years-old. DeSilva also told detectives that he is employed at a group home for the mentally challenged, owned by CRJ Community Resource Justice. He said he works the midnight shift.
