Football coach arrested on human trafficking charges after cops place decoy prostitution adverts
Patrick Kugler, a former assistant football coach at Austin Peay, was one of six people arrested on human trafficking charges Thursday.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation released a statement Thursday saying Kugler had been arrested on suspicion of trafficking for sexual slavery. His bail was set at $5,000.
The TBI said in a statement: Over a two-day period beginning on August 16, as part of an undercover operation aimed at combating human trafficking in the Montgomery County area, agents placed several decoy advertisements on websites known to be associated with prostitution and commercial sex.
“The operation was aimed at identifying individuals who wanted to engage in commercial sex acts with minors.”
Patrick Kugler, former assistant football coach at Austin Peay, has been arrested on human trafficking charges
It was also said that ‘seven other individuals have been identified as possible victims of human trafficking’.
Austin Peay acknowledged the arrest of Kugler, who abruptly resigned as coach on Sunday.
“Austin Peay State University is aware of the arrest of former football assistant coach Patrick Kugler, who resigned from his position on Sunday, August 18,” it told WSMV4 in Tennessee.
“The Clarksville Police Department is the primary authority for the arrest and any additional questions should be directed to them. Austin Peay will have no further comment on the matter.”
Kugler, who also previously played for Michigan, appears to have deleted all of his social media accounts following his firing.
His page on the school website is also no longer active.
Austin Peay opens its football season on August 31 against the Louisville Cardinals.