CALVERT COUNTY, Md. — A youth football coach from Calvert County, Maryland, has been charged on four counts of sex abuse of a minor following an investigation into claims by 12 of his former players who came forward with allegations against the man, according to the Calvert County Sheriff's Office in a statement to WUSA9.
Prince George's County Child Protective Services authorities have contacted Calvert County investigators with reports of as many as 9 more possible victims, according to Calvert County Assistant Sheriff David McDowell.
Moshe Michael Imel, 50, of Owings, Maryland, was arrested on March 18 by the Calvert County Sheriff's Office (CCSO). The charges Imel faces stem back to when the two former players were coached by him in 2009, CCSO said.
CCSO said its investigation gave detectives enough probable cause to charge Imel with the abuse allegations brought against him by his former players.
"Detectives believe there may be additional victims. Out of precaution, parents are asked to speak with their children about Imel and report any activity that could be deemed inappropriate," CCSO said.
Imel coached children for the Patuxent Rhinos youth football organization in Prince George’s County, according to Rhinos president Richard Taylor. Imel was also a volunteer JV coach at Northern High School in Calvert County in the 2016 season, according to a school system spokesperson.
Imel is jailed in Calvert County on a $500,000 bail.
In a written statement, the Patuxent Rhinos president pledged to cooperate fully with investigators.
"We are shocked and utterly saddened by these disturbing allegations," wrote organization president Richard Taylor.
"Background checks and ardent evaluations of coaches, administrators, and volunteers are mandated yearly. Sometimes these safety systems we trust in fail us, and bad people breach the security barriers we try so hard to implement," Taylor added.
Anyone with information pertaining to this investigation is asked to contact Detective Mudd at Michael.mudd@calvertcountymd.gov.