Hockey coach to face charges in Florida

NEW BEDFORD, MASS. (WPRI) - A youth hockey coach accused of soliciting teen boys online has been turned over to authorities in Florida.

41-year old Anthony DeSilva was arrested Thursday at his home in Acushnet, Massachusetts.

His mother, who was there when her son was arrested, spoke to reporters on Friday about the charges.

"I just can't believe it.  I haven't slept in two days," said Gladys DeSilva.

Anthony DeSilva is charged with ten counts of using a computer to seduce a child and one count of transmission of material harmful to a child.

DeSilva is a coach for the Massachusetts Maple Leafs, a club made up of players ages sixteen to twenty years old.

The Bristol County District Attorney's office tells Eyewitness News, the mother of a sixteen year old boy in Polk County, Florida contacted police when she believed DeSilva was talking to her son on Facebook.

It was after detectives received permission to pose as the teen online, that they say DeSilva sent nude pictures of himself and described sexual acts to what he believed was the underage boy.

The Bristol County District Attorney is involved in the investigation.  Right now, they do not believe there are any local victims.