A former traveling soccer coach with ties to Flagler County and elsewhere across Florida was arrested Thursday on molestation charges, deputies said.
- Former soccer coach with ties to Flagler arrested on molestation charges
- Sean Stern, 35, accused of molesting two male juveniles
- Stern was arrested Thursday in Tacoma, Washington
Sean Douglas Stern, 35, was charged with two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation as an authority figure of a school. He was arrested in Tacoma, Washington, by U.S. Marshals and was being held without bail at the Pierce County Jail.
Flagler County Sheriff's Office detectives filed a nationwide warrant Oct. 19 seeking Stern's arrest.
Stern is accused of molesting two male juvenile victims between 12 years old and 16 years old on multiple occasions at multiple locations within Flagler County between January 2015 and April 2016, according to the arrest warrant.
Detectives began investigating Stern in April after he was fired from a now-defunct Professional Sports Pathways, a Palm Coast-based soccer school.
Stern's last Flagler County address was along South Central Avenue in Flagler Beach. He left Flagler County in April and eventually moved to Seattle, deputies said.
Stern has also coached youth programs at the Player Development Academy, a soccer club in Palm Coast, as well as at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach. He also has worked for or is possibly affiliated with the following soccer organizations: Matanzas High School, Jacksonville Armada, FC United, West Ham International Academy and Pure FC.
He has ties to soccer programs throughout Florida, Texas and North Carolina, deputies said.
The Sheriff's Office urges anyone whose male child participated in soccer programs with Stern to talk to their children and find out if they have ever been victimized or have information about the coach. All information should be provided to a Flagler County detective by calling 386-586-4890.
Detectives are also seeking any information on Stern that the public may have. Callers can remain anonymous by contact Crime Stoppers of Northeast Florida at 888-277-8477.