Local News

Youth Soccer Coach Charged With Sex Assault

HIGHLAND VILLAGE (CBS 11 News) ―

A youth soccer coach in Lewisville has been arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and a charge of indecency with a child.

Denton County authorities say Daniel Patrick Cassidy, 47, was arrested on July 3.

Denton County authorities say the three charges against Cassidy involve the sexual abuse of two young girls. The girls he was charged with abusing are 5 and 10 and were neighbors of Cassidy at the time of the alleged crimes. Authorities say neither child was one of his players.

Police documents say the assault on the 5-year-old was reported to have happened at Cassidy's home in April or May of 2007. It was unclear when the alleged abuse of the other girl is believed to have occurred.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, the 5-year-old described to police how Cassidy molested her.  She also told them he took pictures of her and put them on his computer.

The affidavit also says Cassidy's computer has videos that show several young girls wearing dresses as they slide down playground slides.

Thursday, some of Cassidy's neighbors expressed concern.  "It's always scary when that happens for the kids that do live in this neighborhood," said neighbor Brittany Gilbert. "There are a lot of kids that do live in this neighborhood and he has a lot of kids of his own, I do know that."

Cassidy is an engineer who is married and has four children.

He was a coach with the Greater Lewisville Soccer Association.  The president of the organization, Brad Kerley, tells CBS 11 News the group learned of the arrest Tuesday and has removed Cassidy from all responsibilities related to the organization.

Kerley says there are 5,000 kids in the organization.  All the teams in the group with which Cassidy has worked have been notified.

Cassidy has coached girls' soccer for the Greater Lewisville Area Soccer Association for the last three years.

Kerley says all their coaches undergo a background check each season and that no criminal history has turned up on Cassidy.

Highland Village police, who first arrested Cassidy, say they encourage parents whose children participate in the Greater Lewisville Soccer Association to discuss the issue with their children, and contact police if they have concerns about the treatment of their children.

Police say children who are apparently victims in this case are being interviewed by the Child Advocacy Center for Denton County, which is a government agency that specializes in dealing with children who are victims of abuse.

Cassidy is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.

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