Soccer coach accused of sending ‘sexual’ messages to minor

The boys’ varsity soccer coach for Somerset Academy’s Pembroke Pines school has been arrested, accused of sending “sexual” and “inappropriate” messages to a minor and asking for nude pictures in return, police say.

Pembroke Pines police arrested Owen Cleveland Gayle, 38, of Davie, on four charges, including promoting sexual performances of a child, transmission of harmful material to a minor, unlawful use of a computer and solicitation.

Gayle used WhatsApp’s messaging application to privately message a young girl who volunteered with the team. He texted practice and game schedules to members of the team using the application but began to send “inappropriate text messages and content that was sexual in nature,” according to a summary provided by police.

The girl reported the messages she received to another soccer coach, who contacted the police. When a Pembroke Pines police detective took over the girl’s account to communicate with Gayle, the soccer coach sent nude images of himself to the account and solicited the victim for nude images, police said.

Somerset Academy is at 20805 Johnson St. Gayle was arrested at Central Park in Plantation and admitted to all charges before being transported to the Broward Sheriff’s Office main jail, police said.

Gayle previously served as a soccer coach at Soccer Elite Training and First Touch Academy, where he provided private lessons, and at the city of Weston AYSO Select Program.

Individuals with further information about the suspect or who have experienced similar involvement with the suspect are urged to report information to Pembroke Pines police at 954431-2200, call Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS or email tips@ppines.com