Former Chief Umpire of Fort Hunt Little League Charged in Child Porn Case: Report

A former chief umpire for the Fort Hunt Little League has been charged in a child porn case, according to a report from The Washington Post.

Donald Essex, 67, allegedly sent sexually explicit images of children to a Washington, D.C. police detective, according to the story. The detective was online pretending to be a father who was sexually active with his own 9-year-old daughter, the newspaper story says.

WTOP reports that Essex is being held without bond.

The Little League acted swiftly, terminating Essex, and is cooperating fully with authorities.

“Fort Hunt Little League is dedicated to providing high-quality youth baseball in a safe family-centric environment,” Barry Meuse, Fort Hunt Little League president, said in a statement.

“We have a zero tolerance policy for any behavior that may negatively impact our players and families,” Meuse said. “We are cooperating fully with the authorities regarding this investigation, and Don Essex’s association with Fort Hunt Little League was immediately terminated.”

The Fairfax County Police Department wants to hear from anyone who may have information or concerns about the case.

“If you feel you may have information about the suspect or have concerns, please contact police,” said spokeswoman Lucy Caldwell. “We are working with and in support of the FBI on this matter.”

Read the entire Washington Post story here.