Former coach sentenced to almost four years on child porn charges

McALLEN — A former Mission Veterans Memorial High School football coach will spend nearly four years in federal prison after pleading guilty to child pornography charges, U.S. Attorney Don DeGabrielle announced Tuesday.

But Pedro Calderon III’s friends and attorney said the 42-year-old has already begun to atone for his mistakes and has sought counseling for his pornography addiction.

“He is certainly intent on maximizing his rehabilitation in prison and taking advantage of any programs available to him there,” lawyer Sergio J. Valdez said.

Calderon, who also taught physical education at the high school, was arrested in August 2005 after sending a photograph of a 12-year-old girl performing sexual acts to an undercover investigator he met online.

He later told police he had sent at least three more explicit images of children to people at other addresses.

While executing a search warrant at his home, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents found nearly 30 more pornographic photos of minors on his computer, despite the fact that much of the hard drive’s contents had been erased.

Calderon said he had cleaned out his computer days before agents arrived on his doorstep because he believed he had become the victim of identity theft, according to court documents.

However, investigators believe a friend of a Mission police officer close to the investigation may have tipped Calderon off to the impending raid.

On Tuesday, Mission police spokesman Lt. Martin Garza said the department was unaware of any leaks from its ranks and had not heard anything about Calderon’s alleged inside knowledge until Tuesday. They planned to look into the matter now, but did not immediately get back with further comment.

The Mission school district placed Calderon on administrative leave immediately after his arrest more than two years ago.

He resigned his position in March 2006, four months before he pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography.

Since then, Calderon has joined several prayer groups and attempted to overcome what he describes as a dark period in his life, according to several letters filed with the court on his behalf.

“He acknowledges that he made a terrible, life-changing mistake,” wrote Barney Sarver, a member of Calderon’s prayer group at Baptist Temple of McAllen. “But one mistake does not define a man’s life or ambition.”

“Pete has so much to offer the community and mankind,” he said.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Ricardo H. Hinojosa sentenced Calderon to 46 months in prison without the possibility of parole. He must submit to two years of court supervision after his release.

Calderon was ordered to report to the custody of U.S. Marshals on Jan. 4 to begin his prison term.

Calls to his Mission home were not returned Tuesday.

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Jeremy Roebuck covers courts, law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4437.