Former Maypearl Police Chief Kevin Coffey faces four felony charges following an investigation into the alleged online solicitation of a minor.
Coffey, 49, was booked Wednesday into the Ellis County Jail on charges that include child sexual assault and indecency with a child, according to jail records. His bond was set at $350,000.
The Ellis County District Attorney's office and the Texas Rangers began investigating Coffey after the parents of a 16-year-old girl complained, according to search warrants released last week.
Coffey first contacted the girl on Facebook two years ago when she was 14 years old, investigators said, and ended up messaging her almost every day.
Some of the texts were sexually explicit like "You have a nice body" and other comments far more graphic, according to the warrants. In one case, he sent her a photo of himself holding handcuffs with the message, "One of these days hahaha," authorities said.
The girl told investigators that Coffey was also communicating with as many as five other girls, the warrants said.
Texas Rangers seized computers from Coffey's home in Grandview and his office at the Maypearl police department. They also seized his cellphones and body camera, which he apparently wore on duty.
Maypearl is a town of about 1,000 residents located about halfway between Waxahachie and Grandview.
Coffey was hired as Maypearl police chief two years ago. Mayor Adele Mooney said last week Coffey had been placed on paid administrative leave.
NBC 5's Scott Gordon contributed to this report.
