Santa Teresa Middle School coach accused of soliciting 14-year-old studentvia social media

Detectives with the Sunland Park Police Department arrested a soccer and track coach at Santa Teresa Middle School accused of soliciting a 14-year-old student for sex.

Matthew Evan Bird Soto, 30, of El Paso Texas, is charged with a single count of Child Solicitation by Electronic Device and two counts of Criminal Sexual Communication with a Child.

Police said Soto, a former Air Force Airman, has been at Santa Teresa Middle School in Sunland Park, New Mexico since 2016.

Soto allegedly began communicating with the girl via social media, police said. He allegedly sent sexually explicit messages, videos and photos of himself to the teenager, police said.

Soto allegedly admitted to asking the 14-year-old for a kiss for his upcoming birthday and went on to say he was even willing to get her out of class to “hook up” with her, police said.

Soto was booked into the Dona Ana County Detention Center where he is initially being held without bond.

“We would like to remind parents to be cognizant of your child’s social media activity to help protect your child from predators,” said Sunland Park Police Detective Daniel Perez, “Parental monitoring can provide specific details about your child’s online activity.”