Maypearl Police Chief under investigation for Online Solicitation of a Minor

Photo courtesy Maypearl Police Department.

According to a search warrant, Maypearl Police Chief Kevin Coffey is under investigation by the Texas Rangers and Texas Attorney General's Office for Online Solicitation of a Minor.

MAYPEARL — An Affidavit for Evidentiary Search Warrant indicates Maypearl Police Chief Kevin Coffey, 49, is under investigation by the Texas Rangers and Texas Attorney General's Office for Official Oppression, Misuse of Official Information, Online Solicitation of a Minor, Stalking, Harassment and Tampering with Evidence.

According to the affidavit written by Texas Ranger Adam Sweaney, Coffey began having contact with a minor female two years ago when she was 14-years-old.

Documents indicate the juvenile told Sweaney that Coffey would contact her via cellphone text messages, Facebook, Snapchat, in person and request that she visit his office at 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. The juvenile also stated that Coffey would sit outside her house in his patrol vehicle and personal vehicle.

The juvenile told Sweaney that Coffey made sexual comments about her body, such as "Your ass is getting big," "I would like to smack your ass," "You have a nice body," "You have nice boobs."

"Juvenile stated Chief Coffey's messages have progressively gotten worse since he started messaging her since she was fourteen," the affidavit states.

Coffey is also accused of confiscating the juvenile's cellphone from a vehicle impound in Abilene without a search warrant so that he could search it.

"Juvenile stated that she and her parents have kept this quiet because they are scared Chief Coffey would retaliate against them," Sweaney wrote.

Sweaney stated in the affidavit that a forensic examination by the Navarro County Sheriff's Office of the juvenile's phones confirmed disturbing Facebook messages between Coffey and the juvenile.

The affidavit states comments such as "I'll cuff u and put u on the hood again and smack that ass lol" and a photograph of a remote location with the comment "Had a nice spot picked out to stop you and everything lol" were found to have been sent by Coffey.

The documents state, "Juvenile stated that Chief Coffey would rub her arm from elbow to shoulder, and run his hands through her hair and flip it around."

The juvenile also stated that Coffey is currently talking to five other juvenile females and that she believed he was waiting until she turned 17 before trying to have sex with her.

Coffey's Grandview home and Maypearl office were searched over the weekend that resulted in the confiscation of a number of electronic devices.

Click here to read the full Affidavit for Evidentiary Search Warrant.

As of press time, Coffey has not been arrested. Maypearl Mayor Adele Mooney told Ellis County Citizen that Coffey is on paid administrative leave.

"The Chief is currently on paid administrative leave until further notice," Mooney said.

Coffey became the Chief of Police in September 2013 after serving as a police officer for the previous 23 years, including with the Maypearl Police Department since November 2010.

Coffey has also received a number of honors and awards throughout his career. He has received the Medal of Merit, multiple Lifesaving Awards, Supervisor of the Year, Medal of Valor, Silver Star for Bravery.

According to his LinkedIn profile, his current and past certifications include Medico-Legal Death Investigator, Master Peace Officer, Advanced Peace Officer, Intermediate Peace Officer, Mental Health Peace Officer License, Special Investigator (Sexual Assault & Family Violence), Police Instructor License, Field Training Officer, Basic and Intermediate SWAT Certification, among others.