MOUNT VERNON – Robert Pope, a 30-year-old volunteer coach with the Mount Vernon High School varsity baseball team was arrested on Wednesday, August 11, by federal authorities. A joint statement by federal and Westchester County authorities says Pope was arrested for persuading, inducing, enticing, and coercing a 16-year-old minor to engage in sexual activity.
FBI Acting Assistant Director Jacqueline Maguire said “Adults who are entrusted with educating and instructing children usually have the child’s best interest at heart. As we allege, Mr. Pope instead chose to abuse his position of authority as a baseball coach to coerce and entice a child into having sex with him. We believe there may be other victims who haven’t yet come forward, and we’re asking any potential victims and their parents or guardians to contact us at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at tips.fbi.gov. Your information could help our investigation, and help us hold Mr. Pope accountable.”
Westchester County District Attorney Miriam Rocah said: “As alleged in this case, Robert Pope abused his position of trust to take advantage of the most vulnerable for his own sexual gratification. We are proud to work together with the Southern District of New York, the New York FBI, and the Mount Vernon Police Department to aggressively prosecute sexual abuse of minors and will use all of our collective resources to ensure sexual predators are stopped and held accountable.”
According to the Complaint filed on August 9, 2021, in White Plains federal court and unsealed Tuesday, authorities say that on or about September 1, 2020, up to and including at least on or about April 11, 2021, Pope communicated with a 16-year-old minor by cellphone and persuaded the victim to meet him in person in Westchester on more than one occasion to engage in sexual activities.
On June 15, 2021, Pope was arraigned in Mount Vernon City Court on three counts of Criminal Sexual Act in violation of New York Penal Law 130.40(2).
