Donald Zigler, 46, of Vonore, was taken into custody without incident Monday afternoon, said Loudon County Detective Jason Smith. He remains jailed in lieu of a $15,000 bond.
Zigler, who was described as a self-employed construction worker, was active as a volunteer softball coach for the Greenback Parks and Recreation League when the mother of a girl learned that he'd been soliciting her for sexual favors through the popular social networking site.
"The mother brought it to our attention, and I went to the daughter's MySpace account and found where the comments had been made," Smith said.
The girl was not on Zigler's team this year but had been previously.
A Greenback
parks and recreation softball coach is behind
bars charged with soliciting a 14 year-old girl.
Loudon County officials think there may be more
victims.
Greenback parents tell Volunteer TV News they're
thankful an alleged predator is off the street.
Fran Hawley watches her daughter play softball
for Greenback High School. Fran has 3 girls who
grew up playing park and rec sports. Fran Hawley
says, "Girls learn so much and become such close
friends."
Police say one of their close friends has fallen
victim to an on-line sexual predator. Police
arrested 46 year-old Donald Zigler and charged
him with soliciting one of his former softball
player.
Sheriff Tim Guider says, "Soliciting sexual
favors or at least maybe entering into some type
of sexual relationship."
Fran Hawley says, "To find out it was someone we
trusted and brought into our community is just
sick."Sheriff Guider says the victim's mother
logged onto her Myspace account and found the
messages.
Police confiscated both computers and found the
explicit requests deleted, but still in the
trash bin. Fran Hawley says, "I know the girl.
She's just a great ball player and would no way
bring this upon herself. She's just very
innocent."
Fran is happy police acted quickly, but will be
watching her daughter's on-line activity to make
sure something like this doesn't hit her family.
Girls softball coach charged for soliciting sex with former player
Donald Zigler was arrested Tuesday at his apartment on Depot Street.
He's accused of contacting the girl on the Internet.
Investigators say Zigler coaches a girls softball team sponsored by Greenback Parks and Recreation.
He's coached for several years in the Loudon County area.
Zigler is charged with solicitation of a minor and he's being held at the Loudon County jail on a $15,000 bond.
Investigators from Loudon County, Blount County and Vonore worked together to search Zigler's apartment Tuesday and arrest him.
Any parents or athletes who have information or concerns about Zigler should call Detective Jason Smith at (865)-988-2352 or the Loudon County Communications Center at (865)-458-9081.