Soccer coach arrested for allegedly pursuing 12-year-old girl for sex
A 47-year-old youth soccer coach from Surrey was arrested in Washington state Tuesday for allegedly pursuing a 12-year-old girl for sex, say U.S. officials.
Kuldip (Kelly) Singh Mahal was arrested in Burlington where he had allegedly agreed to meet the young girl, who was in fact an undercover agent with Homeland Security Investigations, officials say.
Mahal’s contact with the girl began Jan. 15 when he responded to a Vancouver Craigslist ad, according to U.S. court documents.
Justin Sebens, a special agent with Homeland Security, posted the ad as part of “an investigation into individuals utilizing the website … to meet minor children for the purposes of sexual intercourse,” he said in a complaint document filed in U.S. District Court on Wednesday.
“I’m a bit young and want to learn some new things. I have never experienced the things I want to. I am real and live in Burlington, WA. I like to go to the outlet stores at Tulalip!!,” read the posting.
He allegedly replied: “i really like what i read in your ad, our wants, needs are the same. My schedule is very flexible to chat, flirt and have hot fun. i would love to take you for a ride to outlet stores and teach you new things.”
Sebens responded under the guise of a 12-year-old girl named “Krissy Jennings.” Officials allege that the exchanges continued even after the undercover agent told Mahal her age.
Mahal is also alleged to have sent the undercover agent sexually explicit photographs of himself and repeatedly asked the girl for photos.
Mahal is the volunteer coach of an under-16 soccer team in B.C., according to officials.
The Surrey United Soccer club issued a statement Wednesday night saying Mahal has been suspended “in accordance with standard protocols.”
Officials say Mahal works as a facilities manager for a Vancouver tech company. A Kuldip (Kelly) Mahal is listed on LinkedIn as a senior manager of facility operations at Vancouverbased biotech company QLT Inc. Staff at QLT did not respond to a request for comment.
The allegations against him have not yet been tested in court. The U.S. charge of attempted enticement of a minor carries a prison term of 10 years to life.