Former High School Coach Pleads Guilty to Attempted Enticement of a Minor

Kenneth Wayne Mulkey, a former high school teacher and coach in Sabinal, pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to one count of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor. Mulkey faces 10 years to life in prison after being caught using the social media application Snapchat to ask for a 14-year-old boy’s age, sex, and location. He was within 40 meters of Sabinal High School when he sent these initial messages.

A federal judge will determine Mulkey’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the U.S. government.

Mulkey was arrested Jan. 31, 2024, after sending a sexually graphic photo of himself to the minor and asking questions and volunteering information that was sexually explicit in nature. He used his cell phone to communicate with the minor, and geolocation information showed he was near the high school at the time.

U.S. Attorney Justin R. Simmons for the Western District of Texas made the announcement, stating that Mulkey’s actions were a serious crime that can have devastating consequences for the victim. Simmons praised the work of Homeland Security Investigations and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in Orlando and the Uvalde County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in the case.

The case highlights the importance of being vigilant and aware of online predators, especially those who target minors. It also emphasizes the need for parents, teachers, and law enforcement to work together to prevent such crimes from happening.

The guilty plea was entered by Mulkey, 43, who was a football and track coach at Sabinal High School. He used Snapchat to communicate with the minor, and his phone records showed he was near the school at the time of the incident. Mulkey’s sentence will be determined by a federal judge after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nallely Duarte and Ekua Assabill. It is part of a larger effort to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse, and it demonstrates the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes.

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