Towson Coach Faces Child Porn Charges

Baltimore County Police say they've arrested a Towson University coach on child pornography charges.

Investigators charged 52-year-old John Joseph Kovach, Jr. with possession of child pornography, and they say he was arrested on March 11. Kovach works as an assistant field hockey coach at Towson University in Towson, Maryland, and he also works at the Montessori School in Ashton.

According to police, Kovach had a conversation over the internet on February 27 with a retired detective from the Los Angeles Police Department who was posing as a 13-year-old girl. They say the conversation was sexual in nature, and they discussed pornography.

The information about that conversation was passed on to police in Baltimore County, and they began investigating Kovach. That investigation led to a search of his home, and child pornography of young, nude girls was discovered. Police also found a handgun that was accessible to a minor living in Kovach's home.

Kovach was arrested at the Montessori School where he works, and investigators say he admitted that he prefers viewing pornography of girls between the ages of 9-13 who are in bikinis or nude. Police also say he said he used several computers at home and at the school to view child pornography and sexually exploit children through the internet. He may have used names on AOL such as PecoachRV, CoachsteveHS46, F Athletics, Minkycoach, TowsonGKCoach, Girlscoach, Coachsteve48, Emmmie92, HottieGerl92, and Allie1992.

Detectives say that because of Kovach's exploitation of female children, they're asking anyone he may have tried to sexually exploit via the internet to contact the Baltimore County Police Department's Crimes Against Children Unit at (410) 853-3650.

Kovach was charged with possession of child pornography and possession of a firearm accessible to minors. He is being held at the Baltimore County Detention Center on $250,000 bond.

FOX 5 tried to contact the Montessori School to determine what Kovach's role is there, but a spokesperson said the director is the only person who could provide that information. The director of the school was not available for comment on Monday.

Kovach's role as an assistant field hockey coach at Towson University began when he started as a volunteer in 2003. He became a full-time employee of the university in 2007. Officials say he has been suspended without pay and denied access to the campus pending the outcome of the investigation.