Howard University’s soccer coach was arrested Friday in Louisa County, Va., for attempting to meet with an underage girl for a sexual encounter. The girl turned out to be an undercover police officer posing online as a 13-year-old.
NBC4 reports that coach Joseph Okoh, 40, had previously coached at Wakefield, T.C. Williams and other high schools in Northern Virginia and Howard’s website adds that he also coached at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. Louisa County, where the sting occurred, is located in central Virginia between Charlottesville and Richmond.
The Post says that Okoh was charged with using a communications system to solicit a person under 15 with lascivious intent, which is a felony. He was arrested by Louisa County sheriff’s deputies acting as part of the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Howard officials said he has been suspended from all school duties pending the investigation.
The Bison’s website says Okoh coached his team to a 3-8-5 record in this, his first season with Howard.
Eli Resnick contributed to this report. Photo of Joseph Okoh courtesy howard-bison.com