WASHINGTON — The former chief umpire of a Little League system in Fairfax County is being held without bond on child pornography charges after police say he arranged to meet a 9-year-old for sex.
FBI charging documents describe an online exchange between Donald Essex, 67, and a member of the FBI/MPD Child Exploitation Task Force who was posing as a father sexually active with his 9-year-old daughter.
They discussed setting up a meeting involving the fictitious child, and in the process, Essex supposedly sent the officer 13 graphic photos depicting girls between about 5 and 9 years old with men, as well as an inappropriate picture of himself.
The meeting never happened; Essex was arrested Monday.
Essex lives in the Alexandria area of Fairfax County and was the chief umpire of the Fort Hunt Little League. Police want to hear from anyone with additional relevant information.
Fort Hunt Little League President Barry Meuse issued the following statement:
Fort Hunt Little League is dedicated to providing high-quality youth baseball in a safe family-centric environment. We have a zero tolerance policy for any behavior that may negatively impact our players and families. We are cooperating fully with the authorities regarding this investigation, and Don Essex’s association with Fort Hunt Little League was immediately terminated.
He’s expected in U.S. District Court for D.C. on June 15.
