Authorities on Wednesday arrested a 63-year-old former soccer coach in unincorporated Arapahoe County following a months-long investigation into alleged online child pornography trading.
Howard “Bud” Harper was being held on suspicion of 17 counts of sexual exploitation of children, said John Bartmann, a spokesman with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities began investigating Harper late last year after the Sheriff’s Office’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit were notified by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about child pornography being traded from an internet protocol address in the county, Bartmann said.
Investigators began producing records connected with the IP address as soon as they received the tip and located files of underaged children ranging from toddlers to teenagers, Bartmann said.
Harper worked as the age coordinator for “Real Soccer Club” and was formerly a coach.
“Real Colorado is working with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office to support their investigation,” Real Colorado officials wrote in a statement to The Denver Gazette. “Mr. Harper’s arrest was not related to his work and did not involve any players in our program.”
Because Harper has worked with children, investigators believe there may be victims who haven’t come forward. Authorities are asking anyone with information about Harper to call 720-874-8477.
Mayor Mike Johnston’s latest pending pratfall on homelessness — having ex-cons staff Denver’s most troubled, city-run homeless hotel — is starting to look even worse. It turns out the San Francisco nonprofit that will employ offenders to run the city’s...
Nothing irks Broncos Country like the F word. Frauds? That’s a fighting word, pal. Quarterback Bo Nix and company are definitely not frauds. They’re one victory lap against the no-mas Chargers from earning the No. 1 seed in the AFC...
On April 4, 2024, after the Broncos lost starting center Lloyd Cushenberry in free agency, they signed veteran Sam Mustipher, a former starter with Chicago. Many thought Mustipher would end up being the Broncos’ starter in 2024 since the two...
The Nuggets will be without a true center for the foreseeable future. Jonas Valanciunas will be reevaluated in four weeks after sustaining a right calf strain in Wednesday’s win in Toronto. The injury comes a couple of days after Nikola...
ENGLEWOOD — Sean Payton is not concerned about sack totals. The Broncos coach made it clear when confronted with an unusual reality. Outside linebacker Nik Bonitto has not sacked the opposing QB in three consecutive weeks. He sits at 12.5...
Both Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood were disappointed they didn’t make Team Canada. Was each man more disappointed for himself — or for his goaltending partner? That’s not as clear. And that’s what makes the relationship so special. “He probably...
Just moments after the fireworks died down and the champagne stopped pouring, the Denver metro welcomed its first baby of 2026. Eliza was born at AdventHealth Castle Rock at 12:21 a.m. Thursday morning, making her the likely first baby born...
Where good news shines Colorado State women’s basketball closed out 2025 with a win. The Rams beat Grand Canyon 61-47 at Global Credit Union Arena in Phoenix on Wednesday. It marked CSU’s 12th straight road win, the third-longest streak in...
A 50-year-old man allegedly crashed into an unmarked K-9 vehicle in Aurora on New Year’s Eve while intoxicated, leading to his arrest. Victor Balderas-Castellanos crashed into an unmarked Aurora police vehicle with a K-9 officer inside around 8 p.m. Wednesday...
CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland (AP) — About 40 people were killed and another 115 injured, most of them seriously, after a fire ripped through a bar’s New Year celebration in a Swiss Alpine resort less than two hours after midnight Thursday, police...