Crime & Safety

Burlington Coach Tried To Send Obscene Material To Minor, Prosecutors Say

A man sent sexually explicit messages and obscene material to an undercover agent posing as a 14-year-old girl, prosecutors said.

BURLINGTON, MA — A former high school wrestling coach has been convicted of sending obscene material to an undercover agent posing as a 14-year-old girl on Kik messenger, according to a statement from federal prosecutors.

Stephen Lemelin, 51, was convicted after a three-day jury trial of three counts of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor.

Lemelin was arrested and charged in May 2024, then indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2024.

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According to prosecutors, Lemelin was a Burlington High School wrestling coach at the time. Over a five-moth period, he sent sexually explicit messages and obscene material over Kik messenger to an undercover officer posing as a 14-year-old girl.

In the messages, Lemelin sent three separate obscene photographs of his genitals to the purported child and proposed meeting in person for sex, prosecutors said.

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He now faces up to 30 years in prison and nine years of supervised release along with a fine of up to $750,000. Sentencing is scheduled for March.

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